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1192387
GENEALOGY COl-UECTION
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3 1833 01065 1443
History of Western Nebraska
AND ITS People
History of
Western Nebraska
AND ITS People
BANNER, BOX BUTTE, CHEYENNE, DAWES, DEUEL, GARDEN,
KIMBALL, MORRILL, SCOTTS BLUFF, SHERIDAN, AND
SIOUX COUNTIES. A GROUP OFTEN CALLED
THE PANHANDLE OF NEBRASKA
GRANT L. SHUMWAY, SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
V,3
ISSUED IN THREE ROYAL OCTAVO VOLUMES
VOLUME III.
ILLUSTRATED
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING & ENGRAVING COMPANY
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
19 2 1
COPYRIGHTED 1921
BY
WESTERN PUBLISHING a; ENGRAVING COMPANY
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
J
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V
1192387
2^.
BIOGRAPHIES OF SOME MEN PROMINENT IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
From first coming to this section of the
state Mr. Bushee entered into the civic life
of his community and the Panhandle. He
was elected superintendent of schools of the
county, serving three terms from 1896 to 1900
and from 1902 to 1903, an office which he
filled with great efficiency to his own credit
and the benefit of the educational interests of
this section.
From time to time as he could buy to ad-
vantage Mr. Bushee increased his land hold-
ings around Kimball and is one of the large
landed proprietors of the southwest today.
His business hfe was but a start in a rising
commercial career for Mr. Bushee became
interested financially in the Citizens State
Bank, bought a controlling interest of its stock
and became the executive head of the insti-
tution which is regarded as one of the safest
and soundest banks in Nebraska. Interested in
the welfare of his community both as a land-
holder and banker it was but natural that Mr.
Bushee should enter public life to take care of
and improve such interests. He entered pol-
itics more than twelve years ago as a member
of the Nebraska House of Representatives,
serving from 1908 to 1912, then was elected
to the State Senate, has proved such an able
statesman and materially assisted in placing so
many excellent laws upon the statute books
that he has been reelected and is still serving.
During the session of the legislature in 1919-
1920 Mr. Bushee had the honor of being elect-
ed president of the senate, and as presiding
officer of that body won a wide reputation as
a legislator and leader of men.
In politics Mr. Bushee has been a consistent
member of the Republican party. He is a
member of the Modern Woodmen of America,
of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic
order. With his wife Mr. Bushee is a mem-
ber of the Methodist church.
April 4, 1894, ocurred the marriage of Ber-
ton Bushee and Miss Ruth Cunningham, the
event taking place at Sidney Draw. Mrs.
Bushee was the daughter of George H. and
Martha Cunningham, the father was a Mis-
sourian, while the mother was a native of
BERTON KENYON BUSHEE, banker
and statesman, has had a career significantly
marked by courage, self reliance, marked in-
itiative and executive ability, which bring nor-
mally in their train a full measure of success.
He has begotten the popular confidence and
esteem that are important along the line of
enterprise in which he has engaged and led
to his election to high office in political life
and he thus has secured status as a representa-
tive figure in the financial and political life
of western Nebraska and the Panhandle. No
further voucher for him is needed than the
statement that he is president of the Citizens
State Bank, of Kimball. It has been through
the eft'ective policies inaugurated by Mr.
Bushee that the Citizens Bank has increased
its deposits and business within the late years
and materially assisted in the development of
Kimball county.
Berton Bushee was born at Dartford, Wis-
consin, May 3, 1871, the son of Ezra Kenyon
and Alzina Spooner Bushee. He was reared
in the beautiful little town surrounded by its
encircling hills, attended the public schools
until the family came to Nebraska in 1888.
The father came to the Panhandle with his
family when this section of the state was a
veritable wilderness, settlers were few and
great stretches of unbroken prairie stretched
for miles. Ezra Bushee filed on a homestead
in what is now Kimball county and at once
began the arduous task of breaking his land
and establishing a home for the family. Young
Berton assumed his share of the burdens of a
frontier farm and became sturdy and self-re-
liant. As soon as the young man attained his
majority he filed on a homestead of his own
in 1892, proved up on it and engaged in ranch-
ing and frontier farming for several years.
At the same time he was offered and accepted
a position to teach school in Kimball county,
thus earling a livelihood during the lean years
of farm life. In 1898 Mr. Bushee engaged in
merchandising in Kimball, met with success
in his enterprise, became recognized as one of
the leading business men of Kimball, not dis-
posing of his interests in this line until 1915.
HISTORY OF WESTERX NEBRASKA
Maine. They came to western Nebraska at
an early day and were well known pioneers of
the Panhandle. Two children have been born
to this union. Helen Bernice and Elizabeth
Ruth.
As one of the representative business men
and legislators, and progressive, public-spir-
ited citizens of Kimball county. Mr. Bushee
merits special recognition in the annals of the
Panhandle and this section in the opening up
and development of which he has taken such
an energetic and active part.
BENJAMIN F. GENTRY. —Common-
wealths have great need of capable men of
broad vision and conscientious purpose, who
will take time to study various problems of
public necessity and serve faithfully for the
general welfare. In Benjamin F. Gentry,
western Nebraska has such a man. He is
prominently identified with the state's vast ir-
rigation projects, and is proud of the fact that
he was one of the two men who plowed the
first furrow for irrigation purposes in his
part of the state. He is known all over Scotts-
blufY county through serving in public ca-
pacities, and is active in the business life of
Gering in the line of abstracts and real estate.
Benjamin Franklin Gentry was born in
Nodaway county, Missouri, Alarcn 24, 1861,
the son of William E. and Rebecca (Wiles)
Gentry, the former of whom was probably
born in Kentucky and the latter in Indiana.
The father of Mr. Gentry served in the Civil
War for a short time, returning then to his
home and succumbing to an attack of sickness.
Benjamin F. was then nine months old, the
youngest of his parents' three children. The
others survive : Milton, who is in the teaming
business at Weeping Water, Nebraska, and
Rachel Catherine, the widow of J. W. Hostet-
ter. She resides at Omaha and has property
in Cass county, Nebraska. After the death
of the father, the mother moved with her chil-
dren to Mills county, Iowa, and subsequently
to Cass county, Nebraska, where she died in
1917. Her second marriage was to Mattis
Akeson, and they have had two children : Thor
W., a farmer near Weeping Water, and Em-
ma, the wife of James Breckenbridge, a farm-
er living near Manley, Nebraska. She was
an admirable woman in every way and was a
devoted member of the Christian church.
Mr. Gentry remained at home and attended
*he public schools in Cass county until he was
fourteen years old, when he went to live with
an uncle, Captain Isaac Wells on a farm one
mile from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he
later attended high school. After taking a
commercial course in the college at Valparaiso,
Indiana, he worked for six months as a deputy
collector in the ofifice of the county treasurer
of Cass county. Mr. Gentry then went to
Hamillton county, Nebraska, where he
handled grain for W. H. Newell and Company
of Plattsmouth, until 1886, when he came to
what is now Scottsblufi' county, which at that
time was Cheyenne county, as ScottsblufY coun-
ty was not yet organized, and homesteaded,
continuing to live on his farm until he was
elected county clerk, in the fall of 1888, being
the first man elected to that office, when he
came to Gering, where he has resided ever
since. He served two terms as county clerk,
and while in office became interested in the
abstract business, which led to his purchase
in 1909 of the O. W. Gardner Scottsbluff Ab-
stract Company. Mi. Gentry has since given
close attention to this important business, also
handling a large amount of real estate in city
and county, nevertheless he has found the
time to accept responsibility in connection with
the great irrigation projects that are interest-
ing progressive men all over the state. He
has been a director of a number of the ditch
commissions, and is serving as such at pres-
ent in reference to the Minatare ditch in
Scottsbluff county. During a long directorate,
he assisted in the building of what is known
as the "nine-mile ditch." He is a member of
the school board, on which, he has given
careful, honest service for thirty years.
On November 30, 1890, Mr. Gentry was
united in marriage to Miss Cora E. Johnson,
who was born in Cass county, Nebraska, near
Weeping Water, a daughter of Daniel D. and
Elizabeth A. (Lathrop) Johnson. Mrs. Gen-
try's mother was born in Ohio and died near
Weeping Water, Nebraska. The father was
bom in Pennsylvania. After marriage he
moved to Iowa and during the Civil War
served three years as a member of the Twen-
ty-ninth Iowa volunteer infantry, suft'ering
wounds at Helena, Arkansas. After the close
of the war he came with his family to Ne-
braska and homesteaded on the present site
of Wabash, Nebraska. He survives and makes
his home at Scottsbluff", Scottsbluff' county.
Mr. and Mrs. Gentry have four children : Har-
old E., who was educated in the State Uni-
versity at Lincoln, is chief chemist for the '
Great Western Sugar Company; Willard
Max, a graduate of the Wesleyan University
at Lincoln, will enter the medical profession ;
and Elizabeth, a student in both universities
at Lincoln. Mrs. Gentry is a member of the
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
where he remained until he was elected county
Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Gentry be-
longs to the Masonic fraternity and to the
Eastern Star as does Mrs. Gentry. Politically
he is a Republican.
AMON R. DOWNER, who is serving in
his second consecutive term as treasurer of
Scottsbluff county, belongs to old pioneer
stock, and his business interests have al-
ways been centered here. Although young in
years for the heavy responsibilities of his of-
fice, he was not without official experience
when first elected, and the efficient, careful,
methodical performance of his public duties
has afforded universal satisfaction.
Anion R. Downer was born in Hitchcock
county, Nebraska, October 8, 1891, the elder
of two sons born to Marion R. and Jennie
(Ball) Downer. Mr. Downer's brother, Mar-
vin T., entered military service in September,
1917, and was sent to Europe as an army truck
driver, with the American Expeditionary
Forces. The parents of Mr. Downer were born
in Iowa and came from there to Nebraska,
where his father homesteaded in the eighties.
He was a Republican in politics and he be-
longed to the Methodist Episcopal church. The
mother of Mr. Downer, who is now the wife
of W. R. Wolf?enden. a merchant, resides at
Gering. Her father, James Ball, came to Ne-
braska soon after the close of the Civil War,
in which he had participated as a soldier and
suffered from wounds. He homesteaded in
this county and lived here the rest of his life,
his death occurring in 1916, one of the old
veterans of the Grand Army.
Amon R. Downer was educated in the public
schools of Gering and in the State University
at Lincoln, where he was a student two years.
Afterward he was employed for some months
in the construction department of the Union
Pacific Railroad, and then went into the office
of the county treasurer as clerk and deputy.
In 1917 he was elected treasurer and re-elected
in 1918 and is still serving.
In 1915 Mr. Downer was united in marriage
to Miss Bertie Margaret Lackey, who was born
at Elmwood, Nebraska. She is a daughter of
Andrew and Eliza (Campbell) Lackey, na-
tives of Toronto, Canada, who came to Ne-
braska in 1879 and homesteaded. The father
died in 1904 but the mother still lives at Ger-
ing. They had fourteen children of whom
eight survive. Mr. and Mrs. Downer had one
child, Virginia Bess, who died in infancy. They
belong to the Methodist Epicopal church. He
is a Scottish Rite Mason and has been secre-
tary of his lodge. Politically he is a Republi-
can.
VALLE B. KIRKHAM, one of the popular
officials of Scottsbluff county, now serving in
his second term as county clerk, was born at
Orrick, in Ray county, Alissouri, March 14,
1883. When he came to Nebraska, he brought
with him no capital except an excellent educa-
tion, even a technical one. Pie has made his
own way in the world and in such a manner as
to command the respect and confidence of his
fellow-citizens, and in large measure he has
their friendly esteem.
The Kirkiiams, in the person of David R.
Kirkham, grandfather of Valle B.. came many
years ago from Virginia to Missouri and be-
came a tobacco manufacturer there. On the
maternal side, the Blythes, were of Tennessee,
and from that state the grandfather, Riley
Blythe, came to western Missouri, where he
acquired 1500 acres of land. He became a
man of political significance, served two terms
in the state legislature and afterward was
elected to the state senate. Mr. Kirkham's
parents are C. R. and Elizabeth (Blythe)
Kirkham, the former of whom was born sev-
enty years ago at St. Louis, Missouri, and the
latter near Orrick, where they yet reside. The
mother is a member of the Christian church.
The father is a Democrat in politics and for
many years has been an (_)dd Fellow. Prior to
1874, when he moved to Ray county, he was
associated with his father in the t(il)accc:) manu-
facturing business at St. Louis. ( )f his family
of eight sons and daughters, the following are
living: W. H., county surveyor and a civil
engineer, who lives at Richmond. Missouri ;
A. L., a farmer near Orrick : Ville P... who re-
sides at Gering. Nebraska ; I'.iiti'-, tlif wife of
W. P. Wolfe, living near < )rrick ; Dallas, mar-
ried Claud Heather, who is a farmer in Ray
county ; Ross, who is a farmer near Orrick.
and Lillian, is a teacher at Orrick.
After completing the high school course at
Richmond, Missouri, Valle B. Kirkham spent
three years in the state normal school at War-
rensburg, six months in the state university,
and then took a special course in pharmacy, at
Highland Park, Des Moines, Iowa. For some
years afterward he divided his attention be-
tween farm labor and railroad work with a
civil engineering outfit, but in none of these
activities did he accumulate a perceptible for-
tune. It was in 1908 that he came to Scotts-
bluff county, accepting a job in the Irrigation
Bank, an association which continued for
seven and a half years, going from there to
the Great Western Sugar Company's office,
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
clerk in 1916. His administration of the office
was so satisfactory that he was reelected in
the fall of 1918, his popularity being demon-
strated by the fact that he was elected in a
Republican county with a majority of two
hundred and seventy votes in 1916, and of
four hundred and seventy in the second cam-
paign.
On June 19, 1913, Mr. Kirkham was united
in marriage to Miss Willie Gordon. She was
born at Fort Smith, Arkansas, and is a daugh-
ter of Richmond and Lillie Gordon, retired
residents of that place. Mr. Gordon has been
an educator during the greater part of his life.
Mr. and Mrs. Kirkham had one child, Vivian
Lucile, who died when aged six months. They
are members of the Christian church. He be-
longs to the Odd Fellows, both subordinate
lodge and Encampment, and has a Grand
Lodge degree. During the continuance of the
World War, he served freely on the local draft
board and contributed to its maintenance in
many patriotic ways.
ROBERT G. NEELEY. — In the younger
generation of business men in Nebraska will
be found those who, like Robert G. Neeley,
register of deeds for Scottsbluff county, early
take an understanding interest in public af-
fairs, cultivating serious political convictions,
thereby raising the standard of true citizen-
ship, and inevitably become useful and influ-
ential in their communities. The broadening
effect of this wider vision may be seen in what
this younger generation is accomplishing.
Robert G. Neeley was born in the Mitchell
valley, Scottsbluff county, Nebraska, Decem-
ber 12, 1894. the son of Robert F. and Jennie
(Yates) Neeley, natives of Missouri, who
now reside at Gering, where Mr. Neely is
engaged in the real estate business. He was
the founder of the Gering National Bank and
for some years was president of the institu-
tion. Prior to that he was in the cattle busi-
ness and dealt in real estate in Mitchell val-
ley. To his first marriage, with a Miss Bur-
gess, two sons were born : Franklin E.,
cashier of the Gering National Bank, and A.
Raymond, a druggist at Gering. A son and a
daughter have been born to his present mar-
riage: Robert G., register of deeds, who lives
at Gering, and Mildred, the wife of E. S.
Slafter, who conducts a garage business at
Dubois, Wyoming.
Robert G. Neeley obtained his education in
the public schools of Gering. For two years
he was employed in the Gering National Bank,
for the next two years was in the office of the
present county judge, for one year served as
deputy county clerk, and for more than a year
filled office as deputy register of deeds. With
this thorough experience in county offices, he
was particularly well equipped when he was
elected register of deeds in 1918. He is one
of the most popular of the county officials,
those doing business with his office always
finding exact knowledge and courteous treat-
ment.
On April 14, 1917, Mr. Neeley was united
in marriage to Miss Eunice M. Barton, who
was bom near Council Bluffs, Iowa, a daugh-
ter of Samuel and Mary Elberta (Heft) Bar-
ton. The father was bom in England and the
mother in Illinois. They came to Nebraska in
1902 and Mr. Barton is carrying on extensive
farming enterprises near Gering. Mr. and
Mrs. Neeley are members of the Christian
church, in which they are somewhat active, and
they take part in the pleasant social life of the
city. Mr. Neeley is a Republican in his polit-
ical views but is not illiberal, hence he has
many political as well as personal friends.
WILLIAM H. LAMM. — Public service
carries with it the supposition of business effi-
ciency, as well as sterling character, and the
progressive little city of Gering has no more
trustworthy public official than William H.
Lamm, who has been postmaster since 1915.
Mr. Lamm followed agricultural pursuits dur-
ing a large portion of his life, and school
teaching also in early manhood, and in every
line of endeavor in which he has been engaged,
has commanded the respect and confidence of
his fellow citizens. The Gering post office is a
busy place, but under Mr. Lamm's administra-
tion, the work is expedited, and the service
entirely satisfactory because of his practical
ideas and careful, methodical oversight.
William H. Lamm was born at Thayer, in
Union county, Iowa. April 22. 1877, the eldest
of nine children born to William and Jane-
(Knotts) Lamm, both born in 1854 in Iowa,
the former near Madison and the latter near
Burlington. Her death occurred November 4,
1918. In addition to William H., their chil-
dren are: Ernest F., a farmer near Giendo,
Wyoming; Bert, a farmer near Meridian, Ida-
ho ; Bertha, the wife of John M. Gross, farmer
and stockman, near Giendo ; Bess, the wife of
Joseph E. Nisley, farmer, near Gering; Car-
mie, the wife of Harry C. Barton, assistant
cashier of the First National Bank of Gering;
Lauretta, the wife of Ivor C. Davies, a drug-
gist at Gering; True R., a farmer and stock-
raiser near Giendo; and Grace, the wife of
Peter B. Schmidt, employed in the First Na-
tional Bank of Scottsbluff. He entered the
/^^/^^wiju
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
9
National army in 1918, and was in training at
Camp Funston when he received his honorable
discharge. The father of Mr. Lamm is one
of the capitalists of ScottsbluiY county, to
which he came in 1904. He purchased a sec-
tion of irrigated land and still owns a pan of
it together with other valuable properties. He
has been one of the sound disciples of Democ-
racy in the county, but has never accepted a
public office. He is a member of the Christian
church.
William H. Lamm first attended the coun-
try schools near his father's farm in Iowa,
then Palmer College at Marshalltown, and
Capital City Commercial College at Des
Moines, Iowa. He, as the eldest of the family,
early took on responsibility, assisted his father
in his agricultural industries, and for several
years engaged also in teaching school in Iowa,
during one year teaching at Thayer. In April,
1904, he came to Scottsbluff county, and from
that time until 1915 was mainly occupied with
farm activities, although, during three years
of this period he served as deputy sheriff.
From early manhood he had interested himself
intelligently in public alYairs, believing good
citizenship demanded such a course. He has
always been identified with the Democratic
party and is fully in accord with the present
administration at Washington. In 1915 he
was called from his farm to become postmas-
ter of Gering and, as indicated above, has ful-
filled every expectation.
On May 13, 1911, Mr. Lamm was united in
marriage to Miss Maude L. Abbott, who was
born in Indiana. They have two children :
Thelma Maxine, who attends school, and Ly-
man Abbott, who celebrates his fifth birthday
in May, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Lamm are mem-
bers of the Christian church. Fraternally he
is a Mason and belongs also to the Woodmen
of the World.
RODOLPHUS M. HAMPTON, president
of the First National Bank of Alliance, is
one of the early settlers of Box Butte coun-
ty. No history of the county would be com-
plete without the name of R. M. Hampton,
for he has been a resident of this section for
thirty-five years. He has lived to see the
wide open prairies developed into a smiling
green countryside dotted with prosperous
towns that are the barometer of prosperity
and success. In ^11 movements for opening
up the country, the building of railroads,
villages and cities he has taken an active and
aggressive part and it is such men who have
made history in the Panhandle.
Mr. Hampton was born in New Lexington,
Ohio, November 14, 1861. the son of Will-
iam and Mary (Young) Hampton, the fifth
of seven children born to his parents. The
father owned an eighty acre farm: in the
Buckeye state and there the boy was reared.
He attended the country schools near his
home and being assigned the usual tasks
to a small boy on the farm grew up sturdy
and self-reliant. While still a small lad of
twelve he began to earn money for himself
by digging coal at Moxahala, Ohio, which
was not far from his home, but as he was paid
by the bushel he did not make more than
sixty-five cents a day. After completing his
education Mr. Hampton, at the age of twenty
followed the pedagogic profession for five
years, in both the country and city schools.
He was ambitious to succeed in the world,
and after reading of the many openings for
a young, vigorous man in the new country in
the west came to Nebraska in 1885 to learn
what fortune might have in store for him on
the plains. There were scarcely more than
fifty families in what is now Box Butte coun-
ty when Mr. Hampton arrived, so that he set-
tled down in a locality where habitations were
few, comfort and conveniences scarce and the
elements of civilization at their lowest, but
the tide of irmnigration was setting toward
the upper Platte valley in the middle eighties,
and within a few months after his arrival
the population had more than doubled. Soon
after reaching the present Box Butte county,
Mr. Hampton selected a pre-emption and tim-
ber claim and broke out ten acres on each
and putting up a "soddy" he kept "bachelor
hall" as he expresses it. He realized that he
was not cut out for a frontier farmer, so
sought a professional life, forming a partner-
ship in a law firm with James H. Danskin,
opening an office at Hemingford. The new
firm was kept busy with the many land cases
arising over confused titles, where contests
had been filed. Many land sharks tried to
secure title to land that had been filed on by
bone fide settlers previously and used every
pretext to obtain possession. Because of this
many lively legal contests ensued, but the firm
of Hampton and Danskin did their best for
the honest settlers and as a result had a fine
practice. They tried cases at Hay Springs,
R,ushville. Chadron, Hemingford and Non-
pariel. The present territory of Box Butte
county was at that time included in Dawes
county with the seat of justice at Chadron,
but in 1887, Box Butte was erected as a separ-
ate county and the seat of justice located at
Nonpariel, so the young lawyers moved their
10
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
office there. They continued in business un-
til February, 1889, when Mr. Hampton re-
signed from the firm to devote his time and
energies to the organization of the American
Bank of AlHance, as he believed that there
was a great future for banking business in
the newly developed country. Associated
with him in this enterprise were O. M. Carter
of Omaha, as president; A. S. Reed of Alli-
ance, vice-president: and Mr. Hampton as-
sumed office as cashier. The board of direct-
ors consisted of these same officers, J. H.
Danskin and I. E. Tash. The new bank was
established with a capital stock of $25,000
and operated one year when it was merged into
the First National Bank of Alliance, which
had a capital stock of $50,000. It was con-
ducted under the same board of directors and
the same personnel as to officers. For thirty
years Mr. Hampton has taken a leading part
in the financial Hfe of the county and the
Panhandle. Three years ago he assumed the
office of president of this sound, prosperous
and progressive house. His high integrity,
steady purpose and business foresight have
begotten that popular confidence which is so
essential in the furtherance of the important
enterprise along which he had directed his at-
tention and energies for a quarter of a cen-
tury, and through which he has gained secure
status as one of the representative figures in
the financial circles of northwestern Nebraska.
Mr. Hampton is also interested in the Lake
Side State Bank, of which he is a stockholder
and director. From 1900 to 1911, in addition
to his financial afifairs, Mr. Hampton operated
a ten thousand acre ranch located southwest
of Alliance which he sold to Hall and Graham.
Today the First National Bank is the lead-
ing financial institution of Alliance and Box
Butte county; it has a capital stock of $50,-
000, surplus of $50,000 and deposits of $1,-
250,000. The personnel of the banking house
in 1919 was as follows: R. M. Hampton,
president; C. E. Ford, vice-president; F.
Abegg, cashier. The board of directors con-
sists of R. M. Hampton, M. Hampton, C. E.
Ford, F. Abegg and J. M. Kimberling.
In October, 1888, Mr. Hampton was mar-
ried at Logan, Ohio, to Miss Minnie Fickell, a
native of that place, a daughter of Joseph and
Hannah (O'Hara) Fickell. They have but
one child living, Dorothy who is attending
the Alliance high school. The Hampton fam-
ily are all members of the Methodist church
of which they are liberal supporters. Both
Mr. Hampton and his wife are broad gauged
liberal minded people who keep abreast of the
trend of events and are interested in the de-
velopment and progress of their commuity
and are willing to support with time and
money every laudable enterprise that tends
to civic and communal welfare. Mr. Hamp-
ton is a Republican in politics and though he
takes an active interest in political affairs has
ever been too> busy to accept public office.
ADA M. HALDEMAN. — The fact that a
woman can hold important public office and
has the capacity to direct aft'airs with executive
energy, can no longer be denied or be con-
sidered a subject for criticism even by those
who once were frankly incredulous. The
truth, however, may be acknowledged, that
there are comparatively few women in any
community who are qualified for such service.
In many fields the sex has undoubtedly won
laurels, but men have, as a rule, been a little
backward in assisting women to positions of
great responsibility. Naturally then it may be
assumed that unusual person'al qualities and
marked scholarship pertain to a woman who
has three times been elected to the exacting of-
fice of superintendent of schools, which testi-
monial has been given and honor paid to Miss
Ada M. Haldeman, in ScottsbluiT county.
Superintendent Haldeman was born at Avo-
ca, in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, one of a
family of five children born to Francis Way-
land and Martha E. (Lewis) Haldeman. The
father of Miss Haldeman was born in 1846, at
Marion, Ohio, and died in Iowa, in 1886. The
mother was born at West Liberty, Iowa, and
resides at Gering. Miss Haldman has one
brother and one sister, namely : Henry, who
gives attention to the homestead in Scottsblufl"
county, formerly traveled for the Remington
Typewriter Company, but now occupies his
leisure in writing for magazines, and Virginia,
who is the wife of Nyle Jones, of New Or-
leans, Louisiana.
Francis Wayland Haldeman accompanied
his people to Iowa in boyhood and was reared
and educated there. During the Civil War he
served two years as a bugler. He came early
to Nebraska, went through some pioneer ex-
periences here and did some hunting while
looking over land in different parts" of the
state. He was a nurseryman and understood
horticulture and as such was able to treat and
preserve many of the early orchards from
Grand Island westward. His death occurred
in his old home just after he had reserved his
homestead in Nebraska. He was a Republican
in his political views.
Miss Haldeman completed the high school
course before leaving Avoca, Iowa, later se-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
11
curing her B.A. degree in the University of
Colorado, and was quite young when she en-
tered the educational field, teaching in the
schools of Iowa. Wyoming, and Nebraska.
After coming to Nebraska she taught one year
in the city of Lincoln and later for one year
in the Scottsbluft high school. In 1914 she
was elected county superintendent of Scotts-
bluff county, and after a faithful service was
reelected in 1916 and 1918. She is devoted in
her work, conscientiously giving the best that
is in her to maintain the high standards she
has set for the county's educational progress.
She resides with her mother at Gering, the
latter of whom still owns the old homestead,
on which a feature was made last year of
growing sugar beets. The venture proved very
satisfactory and the 100 acres in beets yielded
a large income. Miss Haldeman owns a home-
stead in Scottsbluff county, situated one mile
north of Toohey. Both she and her mother
belong to the Congregational church.
WILLIAM HENRY HARDING.— The
stable character of Gering's commercial life is
shown in the many solid, well-financed indus-
tries that are prospering here. There are
many industrial concerns that have a wide
market for their products and thus carry the
name and fame of Gering to other sections,
while, at the same time, they promote local
prosperity by paying' high wage scales to ex-
pert workmen. One of these to which atten-
tion may be called is the large blacksmithing
and wagonmaking business that was founded
and is carried on here by William H. Harding.
William Henry Harding was born in De-
catur county, Kansas, August 5, 1884, the eld-
est of a family of eight children born to
William T. and Mary (Nehls) Harding. The
father of Mr. Harding was born in Wiscon-
sin, and the mother was a native of Iowa.
They were married in Kansas, and her death
occufred in 1900. William T. Harding went
to Kansas in early manhood and well remem-
bers seeing great herds of buffalo in the sec-
tion of the state where he settled. He bought
a relinquishment claim in Decatur county and
lived on his farm there until 1889, when he
came to Nebraska and bought another farm,
near Gering, and also secured a Kinkaid claim
that he has recently sold. He now lives re-
tired at IMorrill, in Scottsbluff county.
William H. Harding had public school ad-
vantages and was graduated from the Gering
high school in 1899. After that he went to
work on a ranch and in 1905 took a Kinkaid
claim, proved up on it and resided there for
five years and then sold. In 1912 he came to
Gering and started his present plant and has
developed a large business. In addition to
manufacturing, he handles farm machinery.
As a business man he is held in high esteem,
his methods being fair and honorable.
In 1911 Mr. Harding was united in mar-
riage to Miss Bessie Cole, who was born at
Miller, Nebraska, and they have four children,
namely : Henry, James, Daniel, and Ella. Mr.
Harding has never been very active in politics
but nevertheless is an intensely active citizen
where Gering interests are at stake. He be-
longs to the Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen,
Woodmen of the World, and B. P. O. E.
JAMES P. WESTERVELT, whose nu-
merous business interests have made him well
acquainted with different sections of the west-
ern country, has been a resident of Gering
since May 15, 1887, when this was Cheyenne
county, before Scottsbluff was organized, and
is the able manager of the Farmers Mercantile
Company of this city. Despite the handicap
of meager educational advantages in youth,
Mr. Westervelt has not only been a successful
man in several business lines, but in at least
two counties in Nebraska has served for years
in public offices of trust and responsibility with
extreme efficiency.
James P. Westervelt was born in Ionia
county, Michigan, March 12, 1869. His par-
ents were James H. and Lorena A. (Day)
Westervelt, the former of whom was born in
New Jersey in 1840 and died in 1908, and the
latter in Vemiont in 1848, and die.I in 1^1 2.
They married in Vermont and fi\e children
were born to them, James P. being the second
of the four surviving, all of whom live in this
county. Eugene, the eldest, conducts the
Scottsbluff Repiiblicau ; Claude, who carries
on a blacksmith business, and Goldie, the wife
of P. Gilbert, a commercial traveler. The par-
ents were members of the I'.,ti>(i-l church. They
moved from \'enii(iiit in Michigan in 1868,
where J;inies H. ^\'e^tcr\•elt carried on work
as a lil.iik-niith until 1879, when they left
Ionia cniiiiiN I'di' Custer county, Nebraska
The family iivrd on the homestead until 1887
and then moved to Gering, where Mr. Wester-
velt started a general store which he conducted
until 1900, when he returned to work at his
trade. He voted with the Republican party.
James P. Westervelt was so circumstanced
in boyhood that work on the farm was consid-
ered more necessary than that he should gain
a good education. He remained in the country
until 1888 and then went to Banner county,
Nebraska, and started a general store in the
village of Freeport, where he remained until
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
1891, during which time he was postmaster.
From there he removed to Sheridan, Wy-
oming, where he followed ranching until 1905,
the year he came to Gering. In the mean-
while, for twenty-five years he had engaged in
the practice of dentistry, not continuously, but
as occasion seemed to demand, having a nat-
ural skill in the use of delicate tools and a fair
knowledge of the profession through reading
and experience. In 1913 Mr. Westervelt as-
sisted in the organization of the Farmers Mer-
cantile Company at Gering, incorporated and
capitalized at $20,000, since which time he has
been general manager, dividing his time
between the store and a valuable farm he owns
in the environs of Gering.
In 1908 Mr. Westervelt was united in mar-
riage to Miss Edith W. Sayer, who was born
in Iowa. Her father. Reverend E. H. Sayer.
came to Gering in 1897 as pastor of the Pres-
byterian church. He now lives retired. Mr.
and Mrs. Westervelt have one son, Leon, who
assists in his father's store. Mr. and Mrs.
Westervelt are church members and active in
many benevolent organizations. He is a Scot-
tish Rite Mason, has held all the offices in the
Blue lodge and for four years was master of
his lodge. In politics he has always been a
Republican and has served in public office in
this county, for some years being on the school
and town boards and for four vears, from
1904 to 1909, was sheriiif of Scottsblufl:" county.
Mr. Westervelt's brother, Claude, drove into
ScottsbluiT county. May 15, 1887, in true pio-
neer style with a yoke of oxen, coming across
the prairies from Custer county, where he had
been living. The next year the father came
and opened a small store about the time Mr.
Westervelt opened his first mercantile estab-
lishment at Freeport, Banner county, so the
family has a true pioneer history and has be-
come well and favorably known in the upper
Platte valley.
MATTHEW H. McHENRY, clerk of the
District Court and for many years a resident
of Gering, was born in Harrison county, Iowa,
November 4, 1869. His parents were Oliver
O. and Mary Jane (Hall) McHenry. His
father was born in Missouri, near the Iowa
line, in 1844, and died in Scottsblufi' county,
Nebraska, in 1917. His mother was born in
1849, near London. England, and died in Ne-
braska, December 29, 1915.
The parents of Mr. McHenry came to
Scottsblufif county in Februarj', 1889, home-
steaded and spent the rest of their lives here.
During life he was a merchant and farmer and
also operated an elevator. During the Civil
war he belonged to an organization of state
guards. In politics he was a Republican. The
mother of Mr. McHenry was a member of the
Baptist church, but the father belonged to the
Latter Day Saints. Of their five children
Matthew H. was the second in order of birth,
the others being as follows: Elizabeth Ann,
who is the wife of John A. Burton, a retired
citizen of Upland, California ; Lucy Jane, who
is the wife of John Springer, a farmer in Cali-
fornia ; Harry H., who lives on his ranch near
Torrington, Wyoming; and Lewellyn O., who
is a druggist at Morrill, Nebraska.
Matthew H. McHenry was educated in the
public schools and a business college at Wood-
bine, Iowa, after which he worked on a ranch,
still later operating a ranch of his own. He
still owns a fine ranch in Sioux county. Ne-
braska, and a valuable farm situated south of
Morrill, Nebraska. Mr. JNIcHenry has always
deemed an interest in politics a necessary part
of good citizenship. In November, 1911, he
was made clerk of the District Court, but had
served for four years already as county clerk,
attending to the duties ex-officio of the district
clerk before the latter office was established.
Mr. AIcHenrj' has been continued in office ever
since. He is one of the comity's best informed
and most courteous officials.
In December, 1895. Mr. AIcHenry was
united in marriage to Aliss ]\Iary Belle Weeks,
who was born in Missouri and died in Ne-
braska. January 18. 1910. She was a member
of the Baptist church. She was the mother of
three children: \\'inifred. Wesley O., and
Coral, the two younger children being in
school, ^^'inifred is the wife of Marvin Dow-
nar, who entered military service in the United
States on September 22, 1917, accompanied
the American Expeditionary Force to Europe
and at the time of this writing was with the
Army of Occupation in Germany As a mem-
ber of company D in ammunition train 314 he
went to the front in September, 1918, and was
under fire for forty-two days. Mrs. Downar
is a deputy clerk under her father. On No-
vember 11, 1911. Mr. McHenry was married
to Miss Amanda Sappington, who was born in
Keith county, Nebraska, and they have one
son, John Roger McHenry, who was born in
November, 1916. Mrs. McHenry is a member
of the Episcopal church. Mr. AIcHenry is
identified with the Elks at Alliance, and' the
Odd Fellows at Mitchell, Nebraska.
JOSEPH L. GRIMM, county attorney, has
justified the confidence that his fellow citizens
of ScottsblufY county reposed in him. when
they elected him to this important office in
BIOCxRAPHICAL SKETCHES
13
Ndvember, 1918. A native of Nebraska, all
her interests are dear to him, and from the
l)i-inning- of his professional career until the
present, it has been his aim to defend her cit-
izens and maintain their rights in the face of
the world.
Joseph L. Grimm was born in Saline coun-
ty, Nebraska, December 23, 1883, one of a
family of eight children born to Joseph H.
and Esther E. (Hess) Grimm. The late
Joseph H. Grimm was a man of both profes-
sional and political distinction. He was born
in Licking county, Ohio, in 1848, and died
January 15, 1911. In 1875 he came to Ne-
braska and located first at Pleasant Hill, later
becoming prominent in public afifairs in Saline
county and Serving two terms in the state leg-
islature from that county. He was an able
member of the bar and twice was elected coun-
ty attorney on the Republican ticket. He mar-
ried Esther E. Hess, at Mount Vernon, Iowa,
who was born in Linn county, Iowa, in 1854,
and died June 25, 1907. Of their six surviv-
ing children, Joseph L. is the fourth in order
of birth, the others being: Mabel, who is a
teacher in the schools of Wilber, Nebraska;
James ]., who is county judge in Saline coun-
ty; May A., who is the wife of Ralph Woods,
a lawyer, of Tacoma, Washington ; Clarence,
who has been in military service since Septem-
ber, 1917, is a first lieutenant in a regiment of
American troops sent to keep order in Siberia,
and Hazel, who is the wife of E. H. Shary, of
Chester, Pennsylvania. The mother of the
above family was a member of the Lutheran
church.
Joseph L. Grimm completed the public
school course at Wilber, after which he en-
tered the law department of the University of
Nebraska, from which he was graduated in
1908. In June of that year he entered into
practice at Wilber and continued there until
May. 1918, when he came to Gering and
opened an office in the Gering National Bank
building. His legal talent soon became known
and on September 2, 1918, he was made dep-
uty county attorney ; on October 8 following,
was appointed county attorney and his elec-
tion followed in November. Mr. Grimm has
charge of the bond issue for the proposed new
courthouse.
On May 12. 1909. Mr. Grimm was united in
marriage to Miss Sady E. Kimport, who was
bom at Garrison, Iowa, and they have two
children: Benjamin Hayes, born May 6, 1910,
and Esther Rosalee, born June 10, 1915. Mrs.
Grimm is a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal church. It has been some years since
Mr. Grimm became a Mason and he has con-
tinued in good standing ever since and has
reached the Royal Arch degree. He is past
master of Blue Valley lodge No. 64, F. & A.
M., at Wilber, which he served three years and
during that entire period missed but two meet-
ings. Politically he has always been affiliated
with the Republican party.
LEWIS L. RAYMOND, whose name car-
ries with it the high regard that comes of hon-
orable achievement, is a leader of the bar at
Scottsblutif. and a citizen of the county who has
served in numerous important official capacities
with marked efficiency and great public spirit.
A native son of Nebraska, he is a representa-
tive of an (.1(1 pidiieer family that settled within
its borders aliiKot a half century ago. Mr.
Raymond wa.s h.irn October 19. 1871, in Butler
county, the son of Seth and Elizabeth (Love-
lace) Raymond.
Seth Raymond was born at Millersburg,
Ohio, September 0, 1835, hut was a resident of
Wisconsin when the Civil War came on. He
enlisted April ,i, IShl, in Company G. Third
Wisconsin volunteer infantry and served faith-
fully as a .soldier until he was honorably dis-
charged at Beaufort, North Carolina, in Feb-
ruary, 1865. Until the day of his death, June
10. 1910, he bore the marks of the wounds he
received at the battle of ^^'inchester, \'irginia.
On January 16, 1864. he was united in mar-
riage, at Janesville. Wisconsin, to h'lizaheth
Lovelace, who was horn ( »el(_iher 4, 1843, at
Erie, Pennsylvania. She resides at Scottsblutif,
where she is active in the Methodist Episcopal
church, to which her husband also belonged.
Of their faniih- of nine children, Lewis L. was
the fifth in ot.'ler of l.irtli. In October, 1870,
Seth Raymond and his family came to Ne-
braska and he In miesteaded in Butler count\-,
remaining on !iis laiKJ llicre until AuL;tist, 1884,
when he move(l to !)a\\soii iduutw from there
coming to ScoilsMut'f county in March. 1887.
He took up laud ti\-e miles southwest of Gering
and remained on that f.ann uiuil March, 1892,
when he moved into (.iering. where he lived
a somewhat retired life until 1905. In the
spring of that year he came to Scottsbluff,
where his remaining years were passed. He
was a man of sterling character, was somewhat
active in the Republican party and a Mason in
good standing in his lodge.
Lewis L. Raymond had public school ad-
vantages in early youth and later spent four
years in study in the normal school at Fremont.
Like many another intellectual young man, he
began business life in the schoolroom and more
or less continuously taught school for the fol-
lowing fourteen years in Scottsbluft' county,
14
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
during a part of this time devoting himself to
the study of law, F. A. Wright being his pre-
ceptor. Mr. Raymond was admitted to the bar,
November 17, 1902, and soon afterward
started practice in this county, where since then
he has been identified with many of the most
important cases that have come before the
courts. He has not, however, been able to de-
vote his entire time to his profession for his
fellow citizens have often called him into public
life. He served one term as deputy county
clerk, two terms as county superintendent, two
terms as county attorney, and one term as
county judge, while in 1909 he was elected to
the state senate. Since retiring from the polit-
ical field his law practice has absorbed his
attention to a great extent and his high stand-
ing at the bar is unquestioned.
On September 1, 1897, Mr. Raymond was
united in marriage to Miss Mable Shumway, a
member of the prominent Shumway family of
this section of the state, and they have three
children, two sons and one daughter: Charles
R., Jack L., and Evelyn. The daughter is still
in school. Both sons entered military service as
volunteers in 1918, neither of them being of
military age, but loyal and patriotic American
youths to the core. Charles R. is a sergeant in
the Four Hundred Forty-seventh Labor bat-
talion, at Camp Humphrey, Virginia, and Jack
L. is a member of the United States Marines.
Mr. Raymond and his family are members of
the Methodist Episcopal church. In his polit-
ical convictions he is a Republican.
WILLIAM H. LYMAN. — The banking
interests that go so far to substantiate the im-
portance of Gering, are fortunately in the
hands of able financiers and trustworthy busi-
ness men. With sound, reliable banking in-
stitutions in the background, a community is
helped in many ways, this possession giving
confidence to investing capitalists who largely
base their opinion on the showing of the banks.
One of these substantial banks at Gering that
has been doing a large and safe business here
for many years, is the State Bank of Gering,
of which William H. Lyman is vice president
and active in its management.
William H. Lyman was born at Kearney,
Nebraska, August 12, 1886, the youngest of
a family of nine children born to William H.
and Maria J. (Van Cleek) Lyman, the latter
a native of Canada, who now lives at Weep-
ing Water, in Cass county, Nebraska. Mr.
Lyman's father was born at Spencer, Massa-
chusetts, came to Nebraska as a pioneer and
died here in November, 1917, having conduct-
ed an insurance and real estate business at
Weeping Water for a number of years. In
politics he was a Republican, belonged fra-
ternally to the A. O. U. W., and was a faith-
ful member of the Congregational church.
William Henry Lyman was educated at
Weeping Water. After his graduation from the
high school in 1906 his studies were continued
in the academy. When prepared to enter bus-
iness he chose the jewelry line and Holyoke,
Colorado, as his business field. He remained
at Holyoke for ten years and during that time
became prominent in public affairs of the town,
serving on the town board and also as mayor.
In 1917 he came to Gering and has been iden-
tified with the State Bank of Gering ever
since, first as assistant cashier. In August,
1918, Mr. Lyman, together with Mr. Denslow,
bought the controlling interest in the bank at
the same time becoming vice president, with
Lloyd Denslow as president. The latest bank
statement of 1919, gives the following: Cap-
ital stock. $25,000; undivided profits and sur-
plus, $23,000; deposits, $400,000. Mr. Lyman
is interested in Scottsbluft county irrigated and
ranch lands and is a persistent booster for
what he says is the best county on earth.
In 1908 Mr. Lyman was united in marriage
to Miss Grace Mowry, who was born_on a
farm near Marysville, Missouri. Her father,
the late Charles M. Mowry, was in the hard-
ware business at Holyoke, Colorado, for twen-
ty-five years preceding his death. Mr. and
Mrs. Lyman have one daughter, Anna Mae, an
attractive little maiden of ten years. They are
members of the Baptist church and willingly
helpful in its many avenues of benevolence.
Mr. Lyman is somewhat prominent in the or-
der of Knights of Pythias, serving for a time
as chancellor commander.
Mr. Lyman has been an independent voter
and has at all times felt free to give his polit-
ical support to those whose measures his own
judgment approved.
ROBERT G. SIMMONS, an able member
of the Scottsbluflf county bar and formerly
county attorney, is widely and favorably
known, not only as a young man of brilliant
promise in his profession, but as a patriotic
soldier when his country needed defenders.
Mr. Simmons was in the aviation service.
Robert G. Simmons was born at Scottsbluflf,
in Scottsblufif county, Nebraska, December 25,
1891, fifth in a family of seven children bom
to Charles H. and Alice M. (Sheldon) Sim-
mons. Both parents were born in the state of
New York, and the mother died in Nebraska
in 1918. The father of Mr. Simmons came to
Scottsbluff county and homesteaded in 1886
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
15
and his family joined him in the following
year. He remained on his farm until 1898
when he came to Gering where he conducted a
grocery store for a time. He moved then to
Scottsbluff, of which place he has been a con-
tinuous resident and important citizen ever
since, serving for ten years as postmaster of
the town and subsequently accepting a place
on the board of water commissioners, which
he still fills. In politics he is somewhat active
in Republican councils, and fraternally he is
identitied with the order of Modern Wood-
men. He is a pillar of the Presbyterian
church. He takes satisfaction in the fact that
not only his son Robert G. has chosen Scotts-
blutif county as his permanent home when
choice might be made of any other section, but
the other members of his family have done
likewise, as follows : William L., who is in a
contracting business ; Otis W., who is also a
contractor; Charles S., who is a sign painter
by trade ; Edith, who is the wife of Lee Harri-
son ; and Ada and Ida, who attend school.
Robert G. Simmons was aflforded educa-
tional advantages and was graduated from the
high school in 1909, following which came two
years in Hastings College, and a course in law
in the Nebraska State University, from which
he was graduated in 1915. He immediately
opened a law office at Gering and in 1916 was
elected county attorney, continuing to serve in
that capacity' until October 29, 1917. when he
entered the aviation department of the Na-
tional army and was sent to Fort Omaha for
training. Passing every test, and they are
many and exacting, he made rapid progress
and won the rank of second lieutenant in the
air service, for five months having command
of a company, with jurisdiction over four un-
der officers. When relieved from service he
returned home and resumed practice at Gering
where his friends and admirers are many, al-
though for family reasons he is considering
the transfer of his office to Scottsbluflf. He
possesses every requisite for professional ad-
vancement.
Mr. Simmons was united in arriage to Miss
Gladys Weil, on June 23, 1917. She also is a
native of Nebraska and was born at Harvard,
her people being old settlers of that section.
Mr. and Mrs. Siinmons have one son, Robert
G. They are members of the Presbyterian
church. Politically Mr. Simmons is a sound
Republican and has the reputation of being
loyal to his political friends. He is a Scottish
Rite Mason and a Shriner.
LLOYD DEN SLOW. — Because of his
success in managing the affairs of the Gering
State Bank, of which he is president, it might
be inferred that Lloyd Denslow has been in
the banking business all his life. This, how-
ever, is not the case, although, undoubtedly the
business ability which he has shown here, has
been a leading factor in other enterprises in
which he has been equally successful. He is
an example of Nebraska's native born, thor-
oughly educated, steady, ambitious and enter-
prising young citizens who gives great promise
for the future of this commonwealth.
Lloyd Denslow was born at Hooper, in
Dodge county, Nebraska, November 7, 1884,
the youngest of four children born to Jeremiah
and Anna (Sutton) Denslow. The father was
born in the state of New York, in 1843, came
to Nebraska in 1854, and died in Dodge coun-
ty, April 22, 1907. The mother was a native
of Illinois, born there in 1843, came to Ne-
braska in 1857, married Jeremiah Denslow at
Fontanelle, this state, and died October 21,
1907. Lloyd Denslow has one brother and two
sisters: J. H., who owns a large irrigated farm
near Denver, Colorado; May, the wife of
Charles H. Lyman, who is in the real estate
business at Poison, Montana, and Nina, the
wife of Dr. T. Wiglesworth. a practicing
physician at Twin Falls, Idaho. Jeremiah
Denslow was a freighter in early days. He
became a man of wealth and prominence, at
one time was put forward by the Prohibitionist
party as its candidate for lieutenant-governor
of the state. Yet, he was in very humble cir-
cumstances when he came to Nebraska and
has been heard to declare that his sole capital
was represented by thirty-five cents and no ex-
pectations. He possessed, however, capital of
another kind, and in the honorable acquisition
of property, and in the building up of a stable
reputation, he proved that industry, prudence
and personal integrity have high value. Mr.
Denslow homesteaded in Dodge county and
the family still have this land now grown
very valuable. For twenty-five years before
he retired from business he was president
of a bank at Hooper. He was a Knight Tem-
plar Mason and always an ardent supporter
of the cause of temperance and a firm believ-
er in its final triumph ahhough he was not
permitted to see his judgment confirmed.
Lloyd Denslow was graduated from the
Hooper high school in 1901, and from the Fre-
mont high school in 1903. His graduation
from the Nebraska State University followed
in 1908 and after that came one year of post
graduate work at Columbia University, New
York City. He then entered business and
spent two years in Old Mexico, Idaho and
Washington, being twenty-six years old when
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
he returned to Hooper, where he embarked in
the real estate business, in which he continued
for three years. Mr. Denslow owned a tract
of forty acres of land and to that he added
forty acres, and was engaged there in farm-
ing and hog-raising, together with dealing m
real estate up to 1916, when he came to Ger-
ing. Here he was identified for a while with
the Great Western Sugar Company. Later he
sold his eighty acres of farm land, though
retaining some holdings in Wyoming, and m
association with William H. Lyman bought
the controlling stock in the Gering State Bank,
of which he was made president. This bank-
ing institution is considered one of the most
solvent in the state, is amply financed and
carefully and conservatively directed.
Mr. Denslow was united in marriage to Miss
Alda Grav, November 8, 1913, who is a native
daughter 'of Nebraska, her birthplace bemg
Pleasant Dale. She is a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal church and the devoted mother
of their little son and daughter, Jerry and
Dorothy, the former of whom was born in
1914 and the latter in 1919. An independent
voter from early manhood, Mr. Denslow has
felt free to give his political support to men
and measures approved by his own judgment.
Dviring the World War in which the country
was engaged, he never failed in any patriotic
duty and served as chief clerk on the draft
board for almost a year. He is a Scottish
Rite Mason and a Shriner, and is past senior
warden of his lodge. In religious belief the
faith of the Unitarians attracts him.
JOHN S. PECKHAAL at the head of a
prosperous general automobile business oper-
ated under the style of the Peckham Motor
Company, at Gering, Nebraska, is a practical
and experienced automobile man, having had
special training in this line of mechanics. He
has been in business for himself since 1911
and has been located at Gering since 1917. •
John S. Peckham was bom at Kearney, Ne-
braska, February 8, 1888, one of a family of
eight children born to George F. and Roselle
(Lyons) Peckham. The father was born in
1843 in Wisconsin, and died in Nebraska in
1914. The mother was also born in Wiscon-
sin, seventy years ago, and still survives. Of
their seven surviving children, John S. was
the seventh in order of birth, the others being:
Mina, the widow of Charles Esley, formerly
with Booth & Co., Denver, Colorado ; Nellie,
the wife of H. W. Van Meter, of Lincoln,
Nebraska; George, who resided at Kearney;
Eva, the wife of B. P. Cutting, a traveling
salesman in Nebraska for the Nebraska Buick
Automobile Company ; Cornelia, the wife of
Roy Flemming, a contracting painter at
Scottsbluft, and Ralph, a conductor on the
Burlington railroad. The father of the above
family served four years in the Civil War, as
a wagoner in the Eleventh Wisconsin in-
fantry, escaping permanent injury although
often in great danger. He came to Kearney,
Nebraska, in the eighties and for a number of
years after^vard was in the pump and wind-
mill business. He was a member of the Bap-
tist church.
John S. Peckham attended the public schools
of Kearney until the tenth grade, and had fur-
ther advantages at Lincoln. In that city he
went to work for the Cushman Motor Com-
pany, in the gas engine department, and re-
mained employed at Lincoln for the next ten
years remaining three years with the Cushman
people and the rest of the time was with the
Nebraska Buick Automobile Company and the
E. E. Mockett Auto Company. He had the best
possible mechanical training with these repre-
sentative concerns and by 1911 was ready to
embark in the same business on his own ac-
count. He located at Douglas, Nebraska, where
he cotinued until 1917, when he came to Gering
where he has done well. He is sales agent
for the Buick cars, which has added to his
business popularity because of the general con-
fidence in these motors.
In 1913 Mr. Peckham was united in mar-
riage to Miss Madge Allison, who was bom
at Sterling, Nebraska, and they have two chil-
dren, namely: Ruth and Ray. Although not
unduly active in politics, Mr. Peckham is in-
telligently watchful of public events as well as
local aft'airs, and casts a Republican vote. He
has been a Mason for a number of years and
is in good standing in his lodge.
GEORlGE B. PECKHAM, well known both
in Kearney and Gering in the automobile in-
dustry, being an expert mechanician, belongs
to an old pioneer family of Nebraska, his
father coming here early in the eighties. Mr.
Peckham was born in 1877, in Wisconsin. His
parents, George F. and Roselle (Lyons) Peck-
ham, were also born in Wisconsin, his father
in 1843 and his mother in 1849. The latter
survives. The father served four years in the
Civil War as a wagoner in a Wisconsin regi-
ment. He was in the well-digging business
and after coming to Kearney, Nebraska, he
engaged in that business and expanded it and
for many years was the leading man in Buf-
falo county in the pump and windmill business.
His death occurred in 1914. George B. Peck-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
17
ham was the fourth in a family of eight chil-
dren, the others being: Mina, the wife of
Charles Esley, who died at Denver, Colorado,
in 1918; William, who died in 1912 when aged
forty-two years; Nellie, the wife of H. W.
Van Meter, of Lincoln. Nebraska ; Cornelia,
the wife of Roy Flemming, of Scottsblufif ;
Eva, the wife of B. P. Cutting, of Lincoln ;
John S., in the automobile business at Gering,
and Ralph, who resides at Lincoln.
George B. Peckham accompanied his par-
ents when a boy from Wisconsin to Kearney,
Nebraska, where he attended school. His first
business experience was as an employee of a
lumber company. Later he went into the me-
chanical department of an automobile com-
pany and has been interested in this business
ever since. When his brother, John S. Peck-
ham, came to Gering in 1917 and established
the Peckham Motor Company, he accompanied
him and has ever since been identified with this
business, of which he will soon become a co-
partner.
On December 14, 1898, George B. Peckham
was united in marriage to Miss Mable Hodges,
and they have one daughter. Edna, who is the
wife of J. M. Branson, of Gering. Mrs. Peck-
ham is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, but Mr. Peckham was reared in the
Baptist faith.
VICTOR ANDERSON, M. D., proprietor
of the leading drug store at Bridgeport and a
general medical practitioner of wide experi-
ence, has spent the greater part of a very use-
ful life in the United States but his birthplace
was in another country. He was born in
Sweden, March 21, 1867, came to this country
when twelve years old and through his own
efforts not only acquired a literary but a pro-
fessional education.
The parents of Dr. Anderson were Andrew
and Carrie ( Alagnuson) Anderson, both of
whom died in Sweden. Of their four chil-
dren Dr. .\nclerson was the third in order of
birth, the others being: Charles, Alice, who
is a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, and Car-
rie, who is Mrs. Sangren, lives near Salina,
Kansas. The parents were members of th°
Lutheran church. The father was a well read
man but not professional, being a farmer all
his hfe.
Victor Anderson attended the public schools
in his native land. In 1880 he came to the
United States and went to work on a farm in
Republic county, Kansas, but soon found an
opportunity to work in a drug store at Scandia,
Kansas, and during his three years in that po-
sition applied himself so diligently to the study
of drugs and early medical reading, that he
was able to enter the University Medical Col-
lege of Kansas City, Missouri, from which he
was graduated in 1887. He began practice in
the Wabash Railway hospital service at Peru,
Indiana, moving later to Springfield Illinois.
When he retired from hospital service he lo-
cated at Butler, Indiana, where he en-
gaged in a general practice for three years, re-
moving then to Deweese. Nebraska, where he
remained for eight years and then established
himself at Bridgeport. Here he has a well
equipped drug store and his fellow citizens
know that all prescriptions are put up under
his own supervision. In connection with
handling drugs. Dr. .Anderson has many of
the other features which the public has learned
to expect in a modern establishment of this
kind.
In 1894 Dr. Anderson was united in mar-
riege to Elsie Spanogle, a sister of Mark and
Clyde Spanogle, bankers, at Bridgeport. They
have two children : Howard Lloyd, who is
associated with his father in the drug store,
and Helen M., a graduate of -the Kearney
normal school. Dr. Anderson's family belong
to the Episcopal church. In politics he is a
Democrat and elected on that party ticket he
has served as coroner of Morrill county. For
many years he has been identified with Ma-
sonry and has passed the Consistory degrees.
WILLIAM F. FRENCH. — .\n interest-
ing example of business enterprise at Gering
is the success attending the firm of French &
Hanks, who established their general repair
automobile business here in 1916. being also
selling agents for a number of the best known
cars now manufactured. Mr. French has had
experience in other lines of business, but seems
particularly well qualified for the automobile
trade, and since coming to Gering has built up
a sound business reputation and made many
personal friends.
William F. French was born at Jamestown,
Kansas, January 25, 1885. His parents are
B. C. and Anna (Dufifey) French, the former
of whom was born in Canada and the latter in
Wisconsin, their marriage taking place at
Jamestown. Kansas. He went to that state in
1872 and followed farming there until 1893
when he moved to Oklahoma, bought a farm
there and continued to operate it as long as he
remained in active life. He now lives retired
on his property in Grant county. In his polit-
ical views he is a Democrat. The mother of
Mr. French is a member of the Roman Cath-
olic Church. Of their five children, William
F. was the first born, the others being: An-
18
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
drew, who entered military service in the Na-
tional army, August 15, 1918, is now in Ger-
many, a member of a hospital corps of evacua-
tion camp No. i7 ; Stella, the wife of R. L.
Thompson, a farmer near Pond Creek, Okla-
homa ; May, the wife of Glenn R. Ratchff, a
business man of Mankota, Kansas, and
Gladys, who resides with her parents.
William F. French obtained his education in
Oklahoma and was graduated from the high
school of Pond Creek, in 1904. For several
years afterward he assisted his father and fol-
lowed agricultural pursuits, then embarked in
the insurance business. Later he learned
telegraphy and for four and a half years was
a telegraph operator for the Union _ Pacific
railroad. He then became interested in aiito-
mobiling for pleasure and this led to practical
results. In 1916 he came to Gering and in
partnership with R. M. Hanks, established his
motor repair works and the enterprise has
prospered. The firm also displays and sells
Maxwell, Haynes, Reo, and Mitchell cars,
their territory covering Scottsblulif, Boxbutte,
Banner, Morrill, and Sioux counties, Nebras-
ka, and Goshen county, Wyoming. In the
present favorable condition of the automobile
trade, a great future may be in store for hon-
est, intelligent young business men, who de-
vote themselves to its best interests and iden-
tify themselves only with sterling cars.
In October, 1910, Mr. French was unhed in
marriage to Miss Lottie Brown, who was born
at Clyde, Kansas. She is a member of the
Christian church. Mr. French is a Scottish
Rite Mason. Politically he is identified with
the Democratic party but has never desired
public office, his preference being for the busi-
ness rather than the political field.
ROBERT M. HANKS, an automobile
dealer at Gering in association with William
F. French, has spent many years in Scotts-
bluff county where he owns valuable property,
is widely known and has been prominently
identified with the great work of irrigation in
this section. He divides his time between Jthe
management of his ranch on which he cari^ies
on extensive cattle feeding, and his automobile
business in the city.
Robert M. Hanks was born in Montgomery
county, Illinois, in July, 1859, the fourth in a
family of eight children born to James and
Armina (Witherspoon) Hanks, the former a
native of Mississippi and the latter of Ken-
tucky. They moved to Illinois in the early
forties, and both died in that state. They were
members of the Presbyterian church, and the
father was a Republican from the time of the
organization of that party. He was a farmer
all his active life. His surviving children be-
sides Robert M. are one son and three daugh-
ters: Ritta, the widow of Robert Hughes, of
Hillsboro, Illinois ; James, an agent for the
Illinois Central railroad, at Martinsville; Ad-
die, a teacher in the public schools of Hills-
boro, and Alma, who also resides at Hillsboro.
Robert M. Hanks attended school at Hills-
boro, Illinois, grew up on his father's farm
and later engaged in farming for himself un-
til 1886, when he came to Nebraska and home-
steaded in Scottsbluff county. After residing
on his land for four and a half years, Mr.
Hanks went to Kearney, where he worked in
a brickyard the summer of 1891, then returned
to Scottsbluff county and became interested
here in farming and ditch building. He built
the Gering irrigation ditch and served three
years on the board of directors. For twenty
seasons Mr. Hanks operated a threshing ma-
chine and with his outfit visited many parts of
the county in earlier years. In 1916 in asso-
ciation with William F. French he established
an automobile repair business at Gering,
which has proved a profitable undertaking,
for the use of motor cars of some kind is al-
most universal through this section. The de-
mand for the best of well built modern cars
induced Mr. Hanks and Mr. French to become
selling agents for the Maxwell, Haynes, Reo
and Mitchell cars, and they have a wide terri-
tory and are doing a large amount of business.
In 1884 Mr. Hanks was united in marriage
to Miss Nettie Kern, who was born in Ohio
but was reared in Illinois. They have two
daughters : Fay, a teacher, resides at home,
and Aha, the wife of Miller Cooper, who
manages the Hanks ranch near Gering. Mr.
Hanks and his family are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church. He has always
been interested in politics, not as a politician,
but as a citizen, and casts his vote with the
Republican party. He has been and still is,
one of the strong men of the county, honor-
able and upright both in business and private
life.
EVAN G. DAVIES, who conducts a grain,
feed and draying business at Gering, is not
an old-time resident of Scottsbluff county, but
has become well-known and esteemed as a
business man since he established himself in
the above city. Mr. Davies had experience in
handling wheat and other precious grain
products of American farms, on which the
eyes of a hungry world are centered at the
present time, before he became a grain buyer,
for he was a grower on the old homestead
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
19
farm in Hitchcock county for many pears pre-
viously.
Evan G. Davies is proud of his sturdy
(Welsh ancestry. He was born in Hitchcocli
county, Nebraska, June 24, 1886. His parents
were Samuel and Margaret (Morris) Davies,
both of whom were born and reared in Wales.
Shortly after their marriage in their native
land they came to the United States and set-
tled at first in Iowa and then came to Hitch-
cock, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded.
The mother died on the farm but the father
died at Trenton, where he had lived retired
for some time. Of their eleven children, ten
are living, Evan G. being the tenth in order of
birth. The parents were members of the Con-
gregational church.
Evan G. Davies obtained his education in
the Trenton schools. He was reared on the
home farm and for a number of years confined
his attention to agricultural pursuits. In Oc-
tober, 1915, he came to Gering and began to
buy grain and feed. He opened a grain and
feed store in a good business section and sub-
sequently added draying, exercising business
prudence in all of his ventures. He is doing
a fine business and a safe one. and is the lead-
ing merchant in his line in the city.
In December, 1908, Mr. Davies was united
in marriage to Miss Amy Houser, who was
born in Seward county, Nebraska, and is a
daughter of William W. and Alma (Coover)
Houser. The father of Mrs. Davies was born
in Hardin county, Ohio, and was taken to
Iowa when young and grew up there. In Feb-
ruary, 1884. he went to Hastings, Nebraska,
where he became interested in farming but
later moved to Seward county and still later
to Lincoln, his present home being at Cam-
bridge, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Davies have
two children: Heath and Inez. The family
belongs to the Christian church. In politics
he is a Republican.
OTTO J. PROHS. — An important busi-
ness enterprise at Gering is the Prohs Brothers
Hardware Company, a name that covers sev-
eral lines of merchandising, several industries
and also undertakings. This business is a
growing concern. It was founded in this city
early in 1914, on a small margin of capital,
which has been greatly increased with the rap-
id development of five years of legitimate
dealing, until now a stock value of $30,000
is carried. The firm is made up of three
brothers, William, Otto J., and Edward S.
Prohs.
Otto T- Prohs was bom October 14, 1887,
at Juniata, Adams county, Nebraska. His
parents are Louis and Emma (Doll) Prohs,
the former of whom was born at Stuttgart,
Germany in 1857, and the latter at St. Louis,
Missouri, in 1861. They were married at Hol-
lowayville, in Bureau county, Illinois, and
eleven children were born to them, eight of
whom are living. They are members of the
Evangelical Lutheran church. In 1884 the
parents of Mr. Prohs came to Nebraska and
the father rented land in Adams county, but
in 1888 the family returned to Illinois and the
parents have resided at Peru ever since.
Otto J. Prohs attended the public schools
in Peru until he finished tenth grade work, af-
ter which he was a student for a time in
Brown's Business! college and also took a
business course with the International Cor-
respondence school. He went to work first in
a printing office, but soon afterward found a
position with the Big Ben Clock works, start-
ing to work for $3 a week. That Mr. Prohs
remained with this company for the next four-
teen years speaks well for his industry and
efficiency and when the further fact is men-
tioned that when he severed his long relation
he was receiving a large salary as assistant
stock manager, it may be inferred that he had
proved faithful to every responsibility he had
assumed. On March 9, 1914 he came to Ger-
ing and with his brothers established the pres-
ent business. The firm handles a general line
of hardware furniture and carpets, do tinning
and plumbing and also are undertakers. In
all their business transactions they have been
fair and honorable and they enjoy the respect
and confidence of the public.
In 1913 Otto J. Prohs was united in mar-
riage to Miss Flora West, who was born at
Peru, Illionis. They have one son, Wesley
Richard, born at Gering, Nebraska, in Septem-
ber, 1914. Mr. Prohs, like his father, is a
Republican in politics, and, while never par-
ticularly active, feels a citizen's responsibility
and keeps well informed on all public ques-
tions. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity
and also to the Knights of Pythias.
WILLIAM LAMM. Sr., one of the ex-
tensive landowners of Scottsbluff county, and
for many years one of the heaviest cattle
feeders, has been a resident of Gering since
1909, where his judgment on business mat-
ters and public affairs is considered of great
value. Although Mr. Lamm has been a capi-
talist for many years, he began his business
career a penniless boy thrown upon his own
resources, hence his advice from lessons
20
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
learned through experience, may well be treas-
ured. He was born April 23, 1854, in Des
Moines county, Iowa. His father was Bene-
dict Lanim, and both parents were born in
Germany. They came to the United States
in 1853 and settled in Iowa, where Benedict
Lamm bought a farm and on that place both
he and wife died. Of their four children, two
besides William are living: Oscar, a stone-
cutter by trade, lives at Burlington, Iowa ; and
Mary, the wife of Charles Bassett, lives in
New York. The parents of Mr. Lamm were
members of the Roman Catholic church.
William Lamm had comparatively few edu-
cational advantages in boyhood. He worked
on his father's farm as long as he remained at
home, and continued farm work after he was
thrown at an early age on his own responsi-
bility. By nature industrious and through ne-
cessity frugal and saving, he gradually ad-
vanced himself and in the course of time be-
came the owner of farm land in Union county,
Iowa, where he resided for many years. When
he came to Scottsbluff county, Nebraska, in
1904, his business sense led to his investing
largely in irrigated land and at the present
time he owns many valuable acres, where his
operations in cattle and sheep feeding have
proved exceedingly profitable.
In 1875 Mr. Lamm was united in marriage
to Miss Jane Knotts, who died December 3,
1918. They became the parents of the follow-
ing children : William H., postmaster at Ger-
ing; Ernest, a farmer in Wyoming; Bert, a
farmer in Idaho; Bertha, the wife of John
Gross, a farmer in Wyoming ; Bess, who mar-
ried Joseph Nisley, in the monument business
at Gering; Carrie, the wife of Harry Barton,
a farmer near Gering; Cloreta, the wife of E.
Davies ; True, who resides at home, having
been honorably discharged from the military
camp where he had been in training since Oc-
tober, 1918; and Grace, the wife of P. E.
Schmidt, who entered the National army in
April, 1918, was honorably discharged in
March, 1919 and is now connected with the
First National Bank of Scottsblufif. Mr.
Lamm and his family belong to the Christian
church. Politically he is a sound Democrat.
He has never cared for public office as his
time and energies are occupied in the manage-
ment of six hundred and forty acres of valu-
able land which he owns near Gering, all under
cultivation. Mr. Lamm is essentially the archi-
tect of his own fortunes and is self made. He
was one of the organizers and heavy stock-
holders of the Gering National Bank, being a
member of the board of directors of that in-
stitution.
HOWARD O. JONES, D.D.S. — The dif-
ferent professions are well represented at Ger-
ing, and a leading Practitioner of dentistry is
Dr. Howard O. Jones, who established him-
self in this city in 1916. Although not in con-
tinuous practice since then, nevertheless he
has succeeded in building up a large clientele
made up of those who demand scientific treat-
ment and appreciate thorough dental knowl-
edge. Dr. Jones has but recently resumed his
practice after an absence of four months in
military training at Camp Logan, Houston,
Texas. He entered the National army Sep-
tember 16, 1918, was assigned to the dental
corps, was ranked a first lieutenant, and was
honorably discharged February 22, 1919.
Howard O. Jones was born August 29, 1894,
at Granger, Scotland county, Missouri. His
parents are Henry Harrison and Ida (Sul-
linger) Jones, the former of whom was born
at Granger and the latter at Glasgow, Mis-
souri. Of their three children, Howard O. is
the second born, the others being: Lois, the
wife of B. O. Reeves, county attorney of
Scotland county ; and Paul, attending school.
The parents of Dr. Jones are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church. The father has
been very active in Republican politics for
many years and ex-county clerk of Scotland
county. He is a lawyer by profession, and for
twenty-five years has been in the abstract busi-
ness at Memphis, Missouri. He is also presi-
dent of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company,
and he is identified with various Masonic
bodies.
After completing his public school course
at Memphis, Howard O. Jones entered a den-
tal college at Denver, Colorado, from which
he was graduated in 1916, immediately after-
ward coming to Gering. Dr. Jones keeps fully
abreast of the times in relation to the remark-
able progress being made in his profession,
devoting much study to oral and plastic sur-
gery, the wonders of which have more or less
revolutionized every branch of the healing art.
By inheritance and inclination he is a Republi-
can and belongs to the religious body in which
he was reared by careful home influences. He
is unmarried.
ROBERT G. MILLER. — The wisdom
shown by large corporations in placing ex-
perienced and practical men in charge of their
industries in which they have invested im-
mense capital is to be commended, and a case
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
ii' point is the Great Western Sugar Company,
at Gering, of which Robert G. Miller, con-
struction superintendent, has been made su-
perintendent. Mr. Miller not only has had
thorough training in construction work, having
been identified with machinery and mechanics
all his business life, but he is an able man in
other directions. He possesses great execu-
tive ability, has proved himself able to cope
with changing conditions in the industrial
world, and has had much to do with the pres-
ent prosperity of the plant.
Robert G. Miller was born at Burlington,
Iowa, April 13, 1871. His father, Peter Mil-
ler, was born in Switzerland, and his mother
was born in Germany. They came to the United
States when young and met and were mar-
ried at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nine chil-
dren were born to them, Robert G. being the
fourth, and seven still survive. The mother
was a member of the Roman Catholic church.
The father of Mr. Miller was a machinist by
trade and he followed the same for a number
of years at Burlington, Iowa, and later in Cali-
fornia. He was an American citizen and in
politics was afSliated with the Republican
party.
After securing a good, common school edu-
cation in the city of his birth. Mr. Miller
learned the machinist trade and familiarity
with every line of mechanics followed. While
living in California he embarked in construc-
tion work and there and in other places he has
erected two mills and like structures. In 1916
he came to Gering and as superintendent of
construction erected the mill fof the Great
Western Sugar Company, and in 1917 went to
Bayard and built a mill there. In 1918 he was
called back to Gering to become superintend-
ent of the mill he had erected here and has so
continued.
In 1897 Mr. Miller was united in marriage
to Miss Katie Sawyer, who is a daughter of
Jacob Sawyer, a well-known real estate dealer
of Los Angeles, California. They have one
daughter, Helen, who resides at home. In
politics Mr. Miller has always voted with the
Republican party.
AUBURN W. ATKINS, who for many
years has been a man of prominence in Ne-
braska, came to Cheyenne county as a cow
puncher in 1880. Well educated and with
comfortable home environment in the East,
when he reached his majority, he chose the
freedom and adventure of the West, where he
has achieved no small measure of distinction
and has accumulated a fortune. Colonel At-
kins was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio,
April 16, 1859, and received his title when
serving as a member of Governor Neville's
staff.
The Colonel's parents were Levi and Persis
Amanda (Clarke) Atkins, natives of Ohio.
The father was a soldier in the Civil war, a
member of the Eighth Ohio Volunteer, and
died from disease caused from exposure, while
in the service. Of his four children, Auburn
W. is the second of the three survivors, the
others being: Angelo, a noted teacher of mu-
sic at Bowling Green, Ohio, and Frances Gene-
vieve, a widow, who resides at David City, Ne-
braska. The mother was a member of the
Baptist church.
Auburn W. .^.tkins was young when he lost
his father. He obtained his first schooling at
Sullivan, Ohio, and Greenville, Mississippi, and
later attended the high schools at Tabor and
Hamburg, Iowa. He worked on a cattle ranch
for a number of years after coming to Ne-
braska, in the meanwhile homesteading and
pre-empting land as opportunity presented, and
at the present owns about 4,000 acres and has
eight hundred acres under irrigation, this
farm being under rental. For many years he
has been a heavy raiser of cattle, his activities
including buying and selling, and he has pros-
pered exceedingly. Colonel Atkins has been
closely identified with irrigation projects and
also with railroad construction in this section
of the state, as well as Montana, where he
built eight miles of road at one time. He also
constructed ten miles of the Burlington Rail-
road south of Bridgeport. He is president of
the Alliance Ditch Company and was one of
its organizers.
On July 16, 1893, Col. Atkins was united in
marriage to Miss Lulia Barnhart, who was
born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, a
daughter of David A. and Malinda (Moore)
Barnhart, who settled at Kimball, Nebraska,
in 1878. He was a successful cattle man dur-
ing his active years and his death occurred in
1911 at Sidney. The mother of Mrs. Atkins
lives at Cheyenne. Four children have beeit
born to Colonel and Mrs. Atkins ; Clarke W.,
who enlisted in the aviation department for
service in the World War, was in France for
seven months and did his full duty; Allan B.,
is working on his father's ranch; Auburn H.,
a member of the Naval Reserve corps during
the war, has reached home, and Lulia Virginia,
is yet in school. All the members of the fam-
ily have been confirmed in the Episcopal
church.
Colonel Atkins has been very prominent in
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Democratic politics for many years and was
his party's choice for the General Assembly,
being defeated by less than one hundred votes.
He has served as county commissioner in
Cheyenne county and has been a member of
the town board and the school board of Bridge-
port many times. In 1916-17 he served, as
mentioned above, on Governor Neville's staff.
He is a Scottish Rite Mason, an Odd Fellow,
an Elk and Knight of Pythias. At present
he devotes his time mainly to looking after
his land and irrigation interests, and main-
tains a beautiful and hospitable home in
Bridgeport.
WILLIAM G. BROWN, D.D.S., who has
been engaged in the practice of dentistry at
Gering for a number of years, occupies a
prominent place in professional circles here
and is a member of the medical advisory board
of Scottsbluft county. Since locating at Ger-
ing he has taken a commendable interest in
civic affairs in general and is now serving in
the office of city clerk. He was bom in Ralls
county, Missouri, May 4, 1886. His parents
are George and Virginia (Elzea) Brown, na-
tives of Virginia, who located in Missouri
prior to the Civil War, and now live retired at
New London, Missouri, where the father was
in the hardware business for a number of
years. Of their five children William Guy
was the third born, the others being: Ernest,
in the employ of the United States government,
lives at Muscogee, Oklahoma ; Clifford, a den-
tist at Ashton, Idaho ; Elizabeth, a teacher in
the public schools at Lincoln; and Deskin, a
sailor on the United States ship Mayflower,
having entered military service in 1913.
William G. Brown completed his public
school course at New London, Missouri, when
he was graduated from the high school in 1903.
He then went to work for the Portland Ce-
ment Company at Hannibal, Missouri, where
he remained four years, being manager of the
empty bag department. From early youth,
however, he had taken an interest in dentistry
and when prepared to study the art scientific-
ally, he entered Creighton Dental college,
from which he was graduated three years la-
ter, in 1910. He located immediately at Em-
merson. Nebraska, where he remained in prac-
tice until the fall of 1914, when he came to
Geri^ng. where he has had much professional
success.
In 1910 Dr. Brown was united in marriage
to Miss Matie Gaeth, who was born in Ne-
braska. She is a member of the Episcopal
church, is interested in charitable movements
and is well-known in social life. Dr. Brov n
was reared in the Presbyterian church. Po-
litically he is identified with the Democratic
party and fraternally he is an Odd fellow and
has passed through all the chairs of the local
lodge. Also B. P. O. E.
TED L. IRELAND. — While the luxuries
of life may be desirable, they can be dispensed
with in the interests perhaps of patriotism, or
health or economy, but there are certain basic
commodities, represented by the general name
of groceries, that are absolutely necessary for
consumption in every household, in order to
keep the balance that means nutrition or ill
health. While they may never pose as philan-
thropists, nevertheless the honest and wide
awake grocer in of beneficial influence in a
community. The reliable grocer insures his
customers receiving full weight and standard
goods and his business alertness protects them
from unwholesotne products that may be put
forward under the lure of cheaper price. A
leading grocery house of the better class at
Gering and one that handles dependable goods
only, is that conducted by Ted L. Ireland, in
association with his brother Roy M. Ireland.
Ted L. Ireland was born at Arapahoe, in
Furnas county, Nebraska, April 13, 1888, the
eighth in a family of ten children born to
George M. and Mary E. (Sexon) Ireland
They were married in Nebraska, but the fath-
er was born in West Virginia and the mother
in Iowa. They came to Furnas county in the
eighties, where the father homesteaded and
lived on his farm for thirty years, retiring
then to Mitchell, in Scottsbluff county, where
he died. The mother still resides at Mitchell.
She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, as was the father. He served in the
Civil War from 1861 until 1865, with rank of
first sergeant, and during that time spent six
months as prisoner at Andersonville, Georgia.
Ted L. Ireland has six brothers and one sister :
Wilbur J., in the grocery business at Scots-
bluff; William B., an instructor in the uni-
versity at Lincoln ; Charles C, in business
at Mitchell, Nebraska; George M., conducts
a general merchandise store at Mitchell ; Ce-
cil H., in business at Mitchell ; Roy M., asso-
ciated with his younger brother in business at
Gering; and Anna, the wife of William
Cockle, who is in business with George M.
Ireland at Mitchell.
From home on the farm and the country
schools, Ted L. Ireland went first to Kearney,
where he attended the normal school, (1907),
and afterward was a student in the Wesleyan
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
23
University. (1915). He was seventeen years
old when he went to work for the Mitchell
Mercantile Company, with which concern he
continued eight years. In 1916 he started a
store at ScottsblutT in partnership with a
brother, which was proving a profitable invest-
ment when Mr. Ireland's plans were disar-
ranged by the call of the government. He
entered military service September 6, 1918, at
Omaha, going into training for the balloon
branch, but the signing of the armistice in
November hastened his discharge and on
December 23 following he was released. He
came then to Gering and embarked in his
present grocery enterprise, to which he de-
votes himself with every indication of un-
usual business success.
On March 18, 1918, Mr. Ireland was united
in marriage to Miss Ethel G. Long, who was
born at Holdridge, Nebraska, and they have
one daughter, Ruth Lienor. Mr. and Mrs.
Ireland are members of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. His political convictions make
him a Republican, and in fraternal life he is
an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Ameri-
can Legion.
FRANK B. YOUNG, M. D., a physician
and surgeon of wide experience, who has been
established at Gering since the fall of 1916, oc-
cupies a foremost place in medical circles here
as he has done elsewhere. Dr. Young was
born in Sherman county, Kansas, August 11,
1878, the son of John and Sophia (Franklin)
Young, who were married at St. Louis, Mis-
souri, and settled in Kansas in 1877. Dr.
Young's father, also a physician of eminence,
was born in Tennessee, in 1836, while his moth-
er was a native of Canada. The father was
a graduate of the Missouri Medical college, af-
ter which he practised there until 1879, when
he moved to Arkansas and continued active
in his profession there until his death in 1914.
He served as captain in the Third Missouri
volunteer infantry in the Confederate army
during the war between the states, and was
several times wounded. After the Civil War
Dr. John Young was a citizen of Nebraska for
several years, being connected with the freight-
ing work of Alajors Russell and Waddell,
and the Wells Fargo Company. His father
died and is buried at Weeping Water, Ne-
Ijraska. He was a Mason and Odd Fellow, a
Democrat in politics and with his family be-
longed to the Methodist Episcopal church. The
mother of Dr. Frank B. Young resides at
Springdale, Arkansas. The two other chil-
. dren of the family are: Daisy, the wife of
Bruce Holcomb, a banker at Fayetteville, Ar-
kansas ; and John, who owns a ranch in New
Mexico.
Following his graduation from the Univer-
sity of Arkansas, Frank B. Young began the
study of medicine and was graduated in 1900
from the Kansas City Medical college. He en-
tered into practice at Springdale, Arkansas, in
partnership with his father until 1913 when he
was appointed State Health Officer and spent
one year in that position at Little Rock, then
became superintendent of the State Insane
Asylum there. He continued at the head of
that institution until January 1, 1916, when he
resumed private practice in the capital, but in
the fall of the year came to Gering, where he
has built up a gratifying clientele. In 1913-
1914 he was president of the Arkansas Medi-
cal society, was a member of the Arkansas
State Board of Medical Examiners from 1907
to 1913, and was president of the first Board
of Health in Arkansas.
In 1912 Dr. Young was united in marriage
with Mrs. Jessie Keefer, who was born at Den-
ver, Colorado. Mrs. Young has two children of
her first marriage, Charlotte and Hamilton,
and they reside with Dr. and Mrs. Young. He
is a Scottish Rite Mason of the 14th degree ;
is Past Grand in the Odd Fellow fraternity;
is Past Chancellor in the Knights of Pythias,
and belongs to the Elks, and for many years
has been a member of the American Medical
association. Dr. Young is held in the highest
esteem in this city both professionally and
personally.
LUTHER F. HAMILTON. — To all citi-
zens proud of the acknowledged general in-
telligence of the United States, the published
fact that an examining government board in re-
cent years, found so large a proportion of the
individuals coming before it illiterate, brought
a feeling of astonishment, less, perhaps, to
the country's educators than to others. Schol-
arly men like Luther F. Hamilton, superin-
tendent of the public schools of Gering and
widely known in the state, who have devoted
their lives to educational effort, possibly un-
derstand more completely than others, the
lamentable lack in modern days, of that con-
suming thirst for real knowledge that will
lead youth to scale mountains of difficulty in
order to obtain knowledge. For many years
it has been Superintendent Hamilton's con-
scientious task to inspire this love of learning
in the young by whom he has been continuous-
ly surrounded, and his highest aim has been
the opening of doors of opportunity for fu-
24
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
ture usefulness through awakened and enhght-
ened minds. He came to Gering from other
educational fields where he had been highly ap-
preciated, and the influence he has exerted has
been marked by constant progress in the city
schools.
Luther F. Hamilton was born March 19,
1872, in Macoupin county, Illinois. His par-
ents are William and Mary (Stephens) Ham-
ilton, the former of whom was born in Scot-
land and the latter in England. They now live
retired at Eddyville, Nebraska, having come to
this state in 1889 from Illinois. The father
purchased land in Otoe county and engaged in
farming and raising cattle. In politics he is
a Democrat, and both father and mother be-
long to the United Brethren church. Of their
five children Luther F. was the second born,
the others being: C. R., who conducts a goat
ranch in New Mexico; Ida, the wife of John
Johnston, of Seattle, Washington ; Minnie, the
wife of Ruford Williams, a farmer near Ar-
cadia, Nebraska ; and Maggie, the wife of
Victor Wall, a farmer and cattleman near Ed-
dyville.
Luther F. Hamilton attended school in Otoe
county, in 1888 being graduated from the Pel-
myra high school, immediately following
which he began to teach school. ' In 1890 he
entered the Nebraska State University, where
he continued his studies for three years, in
1906 securing his A. B. degree and his B. A.
degree in 1912, in 1914 winning his M. A.
degree. In the meanwhile he continued teach-
ing, first at York college where he was science
instructor, and at other points. In the course
of years he was made superintendent of the
schools of Panama, in Lancaster county, where
he remained five years, going then to Douglas
in the same capacity for six years, after which
he was superintendent of schools at Cook for
two years. From there he came to Gering in
1916, and his services here have been of great
value.
In 1896 Luther F. Hamilton was united in
marriage to Miss Estella Weston, who w s
born in Wisconsin, and is a daughter of Perry
Weston, who located at Panama, Nebraska, in
1889. They have three children, two sons and
one daughter, namely: Cecil C, who enlisted
in the American army in December. 1917, for
service in the aviation department, is yet in
France; Keith, who is fourteen years old ; and
Genevieve, who is eleven years old, both of
whom attend school. Mr. Hamilton and his
family are members of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. In politics he is a Republican
and fraternally is a Knight Templar Mason
and past master of the blue lodge.
FREMONT SCOTT. — The men who may
most confidently be depended upon to build up
the substantial structures of business in any
community are those who have a varied ex-
perience to fall back on. By the light of
their experience, often painfully gained, they
are able to plan successfully for the future.
One of the experienced and representative
businss men of Gering is Fremont Scoit, who
has the real estate situation well in hand in
the Panhandle of Nebraska. He has been a
resident of the state since his fifteenth year
and to the unusual opportunities offered to
those seeking them, in both past and present
Nebraska, he attributes much of his success
in life, although his friends are not slow in
calling to mind his personal efforts that made
these opportunities fruitful.
Fremont Scott was born January 15, 1857,
in Shenaugo county, New York, the son of
Ezekiel G. and Ruth (Wilcox) Scott, both of
whom were bom and reared in the Empire
state. They came to Wisconsin in 1857 and
from that state Ezekiel Scott enlisted for serv-
ice in the Union army during the Civil War.
Shortly after becoming a soldier he was taken
sick and was so seriously ill that he had to
be brought home on a stretcher. After re-
covery he resumed his former pursuits, being
a man of education, and continued to live in
Wisconsin until 1872, when, accompanied by
his family with one team, he came to Nebras-
ka, driving across country in pioneer style, and
homesteaded in Hamilton county. While liv-
ing there he is credited with killing the last
buffalo that was slain in Nebraska. Later he
moved to Phillips county, Colorado, where he
remained eight years. In March, 1894, he re-
turned to Nebraska and settled in Scottsbluft'
county and here both he and his wife lived
the rest of their lives. The latter was a mem-
ber of the Presbyterian church. Of their
seven children but two survive, Washington
and Fremont, both of whom reside in Scotts-
bluff county.
Fremont Scott completed his public school
course after coming to Nebraska. His boy-
hood and early youth were spent on a farm.
Forced by circumstances to depend upon his
own efforts, he developed sturdy qualities
which have been useful to him ever since, un-
dergoing as have other self-made men a disci-
pline not altogether to be deplored. His first
purchase of land was a tract held at $10 an
acre, and he earned the money to pay for it
:^^
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
by working at ditching. That was the nucleus
of his present valuable farm of four hundred
and twenty acres, which lies in Scottsbluff
county. To farming and allied pursuits he
devoted himself until 1913, in which year he
came to Gering. Here he einbarked in the
real estate business and his interests now cov-
er a wide territory, particular attention being
given to lands in Scottsbluff county and east-
ern Wyoming.
In 1878 Mr. Scott was united in marriage
with Miss Adelia Florence Moore, who was
born in Almakee, Iowa, and they have the fol-
lowing children : Rosie, the wife of Alvee
Leonard, residing on Mr. Scott's farm :
Daisey, the wife of Emerson Ewing, of Carter
Canyon, Scottsblufif county ; Ruby Lillian
who married Bert Scott, a farmer near Mitch-
ell, Nebraska ; Violet, the wife of Zonoua
Yates, a farmer south of Gering; Pansy, the
wife of Charles Gering, of Gering; Emery G.,
a farmer and stockman on a ranch in Banner
county ; and Pearl and Harold, both of whom
are at home. All the children have hid excel-
lent educational advantages. Mr. and Mrs.
Scott are members of the First Baptist church
at Gering. Fraternally he is a member of the
Modern Woodmen order. Like his father
before him, Mr. Scott has always been a sound
Republican and at different times has served
vi'ith great public satisfaction in important
county offices. For four years he was in charge
of the county jail and also was deputy sheriff
for some time.
PATRICK MAGINNIS, pioneer, frontiers-
man and early settler, today capitalist, land-
owner, banker and successful business man,
has had a career of varied and interesting ex-
periences, from hunting buffalo on these west-
ern plains when western Nebraska was a
veritable wilderness with settlements few and
far between, to the civilized existence of mod-
ern days, and few men twenty years his jun-
ior show so few of the scars of life. A resi-
dent of Nebraska for nearly forty years, Mr.
Maginnis knew this country when most of
the houses in the central and western section
were of sod and has watched with the eye of
proprietor the various changes that have been
wrought with the passage of the years and
the sturdy progressive work of the settlers.
He has borne a full share of the labor of de-
velopment from the earliest years and since
irrigation was first attempted along the
Platte river, has been one of the most promi-
nent figures and important factors in making
what was known as the "Stakes Plains," of
the middle west, blossom like the rose and
today the rich valley lands of the Panhandle
are the most productive in this wide country.
It is said that the Irish-Americans always suc-
ceed, whether on the public rostum, where
they are possessed of golden speech ; behind
the counter, where business acumen counts for
capital; on the farm and ranch, where energy
and thrift are in demand and in commercial
life of wide range; Mr. Maginnis has proved
this to be true and his personal success is so
bound up with the development and success
of the south west section and all the people
who are living, prospering and thriving there
that he should be given special mention in the
annals of the Panhandle.
Patrick Maginnis is a son of the Emerald
Isle, born in County Down, near Belfast, Janu-
ary 6, 1867, the son of Hugh and Alice Ma-
ginnis, who were married in their native coun-
try in February, 1864, and became the parents
of seven children, four girls and three boys :
Patrick, of this review ; Arthur, who came
to the United States, spent his life here and
died February 20, 1920, at Lawrence, Massa-
chusetts ; Mary Maginnis McAlinden. who has
nine children and lives at Airdrie, Scotland;
Charles H., who came to .America when young
and now lives in San Francisco, California,
where he is in the government service as a
member of the staff of the pure food depart-
ment, and has one son; Elizabeth, the wife of
John Morgan, of Airdrie, Scotland, who is
connected with one of the large rolling mills
of that city where they are rearing five chil-
dren ; Allen, who married a Mr. Kelly, and
Susan who now lives with the mother in Ire-
land. Mrs. Maginnis is a remarkable old
lady of seventy-five vears, who still retains
much of the vigor of her youth and all her
mental faculties. Hugh Maginnis died in his
native land in 1905.
Patrick Maginnis attended the public schools
in his native country until he was thirteen
years of age but being an ambitious lad he
had paid attention to the stories told by return-
ing Irishmen from America of the many ad-
vantages and opportunities open for a youth
willing to work, and August 11, 1880, broke
all the dear home ties and sailed for the United
States. After landing on our shores he came
west to Illinois, locating in Brown county, re-
mained there two years then came to Nebra-
ka to take advantage of whatever business
openings he might find in the frontier country.
Mr. Maginnis had worked in a blacksmith
shop in Illinois and after settling in his new
home at Aurora, Hamilton county, followed
26
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
that vocation until he moved to Sweetwater
county, Wyoming where he was employed on
a ranch, part of his time being devoted to the
necessary blacksmithing of such an enterprise.
In 1885, a true pioneer, Mr. Maginnis came to
the Panhandle, one of the early residents of
the present Kimball county, making his home
in what was then known as the town of Ante-
lope, now Kimball. He opened the first black-
smith shop when there were but a few houses
and has seen this little frontier settlement
grow into one of the flourishing communities
of the state. With a successful and growing
business, Mr. Maginnis was not too busy to let
his inventive genius mature and ripen and dur-
ing the years from 1885 to 1910 was ever alive
to the demands and necessities of the new
country opening and developing under his
eyes. He was one of the first men of the sec-
tion to see that the first attempts at irrigation
were crude and expensive ; he studied over the
question of betterment and invented a flume
which greatly helped in the infant reclamation
projects along the Platte. Within a short
period he began the manufacture of the flumes
extensively, applied for patents which were
granted in 1902. The state used the flume on
all its projects in the Panhandle; it was in-
troduced into Porto Rico and Mexico but dur-
ing the time it has been in use the patents were
infringed on which caused Mr. Maginnis long
and expensive litigation and it was necessary
for him to obtain a restraining order from
the Federal Court which held for years until
a decision in his favor was handed down and
the question settled for all time by Judge
Lewis, of Denver. Since then Mr. Maginnis has
increased the output of the flume and in the
last year sold more than a quarter of a million
dollars' worth. As his many and varied inter-
ests had grown to such proportions he was in-
duced to sell his patent rights in the flume at
an enormous profit and now devotes his
time to his landed and commercial interests
in Kimball county and the state of Oregon.
Mr. Maginnis' sons have been running a
fine hardware store in Kimball for years, and
when the father decided to build a large com-
mercial block, the store was not disturbed, the
new building was erected around the one do-
ing business and is now housed in the well-
known Maginnis block which consists of store
on the first floor with office rooms above, one
of which Mr. Maginnis keeps for his own use.
Believing in the future of this section, Mr.
Maginnis began buying land in Kimball coun-
ty, when his purchases were the raw prairie.
He continued to increase his holdings until
he was known as one of the largest land own-
ers in this section of the state. From time to
time in recent years he has sold or traded off
the largest part but still owns three hundred
and twenty acres under water rights and eight
hundred and sixty acres of rich fanning and
grazing land. Not confining ;his business to
Nebraska alone, Mr. Maginnis has purchased
valuable land in Oregon, near the railroad sta-
tion of Redmond, and this land is also under
water.
Some time ago Mr. Maginnis purchased a
block of stock in the American Bank, of Kim-
ball and was elected one of the executive
heads of that institution and is vice president.
This is one of the progessive banking houses
of Nebraska, having today a paid up capital
of a hundred thousand dollars.
In 1888 Mr. Maginnis married Miss Mar-
garet A. Marshall, the daughter of Holmes
H. and Isabella Marshall. Mrs. Marshall's
first husband was a Mr. Weir, who was the
father of the two small children left father-
less when he was accidentally killed. Mrs.
Weir later married Mr. Marshall and her chil-
dren took the Marshall name. The Marshalls
were old and respected residents of Kimball,
locating here at an early date. Ten children
have been born to Mr. and Airs. Maginnis;
Arthur F., Alice Isabella. Robert J., Edward
Dewey, Hugh Marshall, Lizzie Margaret,
William P., Mary Ellen and a son Charles,
who died in 1899.
Mr. Maginnis has taken an active part in
the life of Kimball county and the city of
his adoption since first coming here to live
and may be said to be its foremost citizen in
years of residence and worldly goods. His
standing with his fellow citizens and in the
county is testified to by his election as sheriff
of the county which he served for years be-
fore being elected county treasurer in 1902
and reelected, serving until 1905, when he re-
fused another nomination as his growing busi-
ness interests demanded all his time and ener-
gy. The Maginnis family is one of the best
known and prominent in the southern Pan-
handle where every member has taken and is
now taking an important part in the upbuild-
ing of the southwest region. They are one
of the oldest families in years of residence, the
boys and girls are all popular and well liked,
taking after their parents, who are among the
most genial and best liked people of the coun-
ty, ever ready to help their friends, open
handed in giving to any cause to build up and
develop Kimball and the county.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
27
ARTHUR M. FAUGHT, M. D.. fonnerly
. mayor of Scottsbluff, and a physician and sur-
geon whose professional reputation extends
over the state, for a decade has been one of
this city's most virile and constructive citi-
zens. Illustrative of his public spirit and civ-
ic interest, he has been the means of establish-
ing here a umber of worthy enterprises, in-
cluded in which is the Mid-West Hospital, an
institution deserving high praise as to its aim
and accomplishments.
Arthur AI. Faught was born July 27, 1884,
at Plattsmouth, Cass county, Nebraska. His
parents were John and Martha (Root)
Faught, both of whom were born also at
Plattsmouth. The mother of Dr. Faught died
in 1915, but the father survives and resides
at Lincoln, living retired after an active busi-
ness life covering many years, eighteen of
which he spent at Phillips, Nebraska, where
he was interested in lumber. In his political
views he is a Democrat. Arthur 'SI. Faught is
the eldest of the family of children born to
his parents, the others being: Mrs. Ralph
Murphy, of Hastings, Nebraska; Claude J.,
in charge of the L. C. Smith Typewriter in-
terests at Sioux City, Iowa ; Mrs. Grace Bus-
by, of Minneapolis ; Justice L., connected with
the Bell Telephone Company at Rochester,
Minnesota ; and Ruth, residing with her father
at Lincoln. The family was reared in the
Christian church.
Arthur M. Faught is a graduate of the Ne-
braska State University. In 1905 he was
graduated from the medical, department of
Colton University, immediately afterward en-
gaging in medical practice in Seward county,
Nebraska, where he remained four years. In
1909 he came to ScottsblufT and many are the
ties that now bind him to this city, where a
friendly greeting meets him on every side,
and where his devotion to his professional
work is deeply appreciated. In 1911 he es-
tablished here the Mid-West Hospital, which
he owns, a thoroughly modern structure with
thirty beds. He has been exceedingly suc-
cessful in his surgical cases, to which he de-
votes the most of his time, many patients
availing themselves of his skill, some from a
long distance but many nearer home as indi-
cated by a record that shows that he has
preformed over 2,000 major operations. He
has taken post-graduate courses in operative
surgery and watched many major operations
in the clinics of noted institutions in Chicago.
For six years Dr. Faught was city physi-
cian of Scottsbluff : is chairman of the examin-
ing board of Scottsbluff county, and is ex-
aminer for civil service positions in govern-
ment offices. He is a member of the Ameri-
can Medical association ; the Nebraska State
Medical association ; the Scottsblul? county
Medical society, and the National Electic
Medical association. Politically he is a Re-
publican, but largely because of his general
popularity he was elected mayor of this city
in 1917. His administration was an admir-
able one but taxed his strength because of
his professional duties, hence he declined to
again become a candidate.
On July 25, 1906, Dr. Faught was united
in marriage to Miss Rosa Hartman, of Staple-
hurst, Seward county, Nebraska, and they
have two children : Ardon M. and Audry H.
Dr. and Mrs. Faught are members of the
Episcopal church. Like his father, he is a
Thirty-second degree Mason, and belongs also
to the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias
and the Elks.
NELSON H. RASMUSSEN, M. D., who
is meeting with success in the practice of
medicine and surgery at Scottsbluff, came to
this city in 1917 and already has built up a
satisfactory practice and has made many per-
sonal friends. Although not born in America,
almost his entire life has been spent here.
Dr. Rasmussen was bom September 18,
1881, in Denmark, one of seven children born
to J. S. and Carrie (Jensen) Rasmussen, who
were born, reared and married in Denmark.
They came to the United States in 1882 and
established a home at Winona, Minnesota,
where the father secured employment in a
big business plant. He was a steady, depend-
able workman and not only secured the confi-
dence of his employers, but also of his neigh- ■
bors. He and family belonged to the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, in which he was an
earnest worker, and he was equally active in
the cause of temperance. Dr. Rasmussen is
the oldest of their children, the three other sur-
vivors being: John, who owns a ranch in
North Dakota ; Mary, the wife of Paul Nel-
son, of Oregon; and Margaret, the wife of
Rudolph OiTerman, who operates a hardware
store and lumber yard at Cobden, Minnesota.
The public schools of Winona, in which he
remained a student until he was graduated
from the high school, gave Nelson H. Rasmus-
sen a fair preparation for a future career, but
at first it helped him very little in the matter
of securing a medical education, which was
the goal of his ambition. His father could
give him but little assistance and the youth re-
alized that he must depend on his own efforts.
28
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
In no way discouraged and never giving up
the hope of ultimate success, he went to the
Klondyke region and worked four years in
the gold fields there, meeting with some re-
ward. Prior to this, however, he had worked
on a Minnesota farm, had tried railroading,
and had endeavored to learn the blacksmith
trade. When finally he found himself an en-
rolled student of medicine in the John A.
Creighton Medical College at Omaha, he took
upon himself various duties in order to pay
his way. Possibly it was not always agreeable
to act as janitor in the church edifice, as a
waiter at table or to spend his Saturday after-
noons selling goods in a clothing store while
others of his age were on holiday pleasures
bent, but, to his credit be it said, he persisted
and in these and other ways earned sufficient
to not only give himself a fine medical educa-
tion, but to also enable his sister to take a
course in nursing at Omaha. After his grad-
uation, Dr. Rasmussen served a year as an
interne in the Creighton and St. Joseph hos-
pitals, and afterwards was associated with
Dr. T. J. Butler, at Omaha, and later as assis-
tant to Dr. J. E Conn, a prominent surgeon
at Ida Grove, Iowa. Since coming to Scotts-
blufi' Dr. Rasmussen has given special atten-
tion to surgical cases, making specialties of
obsterities and pediatrics.
In 1917 Dr. Rasmussen was united in mar-
riage to Aliss Theresa C. Lzingle, who was
born at Ashton, Nebraska, and was graduated
as a nurse from St. Catherine Hospital, Om-
aha. They have one daughter, Betty. Mrs.
Rasmussen is a member of the Roman Cath-
olic church, while the Doctor belongs to the
Christian church. He is an independent voter
in politics, but is identified with leading or-
ganizations, belonging to various Masonic
bodies including the Mystic Shrine, and a
member also of the Yoemen and the Danish
Brotherhood.
RALPH W. HOBART, judge of the Sev-
enteenth Judicial District of Nebraska, is emi-
nently qualified for the high position to which
he has twice been called by the votes of his fel-
low citizens, and in which he has served with
conspicuous judicial ability since April, 1911.
Through a long and successful career as a
lawyer. Judge Hobert won distinction at the
bar, and when the Seventeenth District neaded
a broad-minded, well balanced, firm and reso-
lute judge, it was fortunate that he was
elected to the bench.
Judge Hobart was born at Calais, \\'ashing-
ton county, Maine, March 24, 1865, of Eng-
lish extraction and old colonial stock. The first
of the Hobart family on record in this coun-
try bore the name of Edmund. He came from
England in 1633 and assisted in the settlement
of Charlestown, IMassachusetts. Judge Ho-
bart's parents were Daniel Kilby and Amy
Elizabeth (Whidden) Hobart. His father
was bom April 15, 1823, in Maine, and died
March 15, 1891. In civil life he was in the
lumber and commission business, and for six-
teen j-ears he held a consular office in relation
to the Dominion of Canada. He was married
in Maine to Amy Elizabeth Whidden, who
was bom in New Brunswick, May 21, 1827,
and died June 9, 1896. Her father, Reudol
Whidden, was a native of New Hampshire.
Of the seven children born to the parents of
Judge Hobart, he is the second of the three
survivors, having two brothers Charles E. and
Harry K.
Ralph Whidden Hobart had collegiate
training in Kings College, Nova Scotia. Sub-
sequently he came to the United States, en-
tered the University of Michigan where he
was graduated in law at Ann, Arbor, in 1888,
and the following year located for practice in
Dell Rapids, Minnehaha county. South Da-
kota, where he remained eleven years. In
1900 he removed to Columbus, Nebraska,
where he practiced until 1906 when he came
to Mitchell, and through appointment was
called from the bar to the bench in April,
1911. Twice since then he has been elected
judge of the Seventeenth Judicial District, his
jurisdiction extending over the counties of
Scottsbluff, Banner, Morrill. Garden and Ar-
thur. Both in public and in private life. Judge
Hobart stands as an example of useful, high-
minded, exemplary American citizenship.
In 1898 Judge Hobart was united in mar-
riage to ]\Iiss Anna Maldnmi, who was born
in Ontario, Canada, and the have one son,
Edmund Maldrum. Mrs. Hobart is a mem-
ber of the Congregational church. Judge Ho-
bart is a Republican. For many years he has
been a !Mason and Odd Fellow.
THOAIAS M. MORROW, the subject of
this sketch and the second son of Thomas and
Mary (McDonald) Morrow, was born in
Lewis county. New York, on the 25th day of
October, 1868. His parents were born in Ire-
land and came to America when quite young.
They were united in marriage in Lewis county,
New York. Their children are as follows :
John, who for the past five years has been rt-
ceiver of public moneys in the United States
land office at Alliance, Nebraska ; Thomas M.
A^
BIOGRAPHICAI. SKETCHES
29
Morrow ; Lavinia, a teacher in the pubHc
schools of Bayard, Nebraska; WilHam, law
partner of Thomas M. Morrow : Anna, wife of
George G. Cronkleton. cashier of The First
National Bank of Baj'ard. Nebraska ; Frank,
physician and surgeon at Columbus. Nebraska,
and Mary, the wife of J. P. Golden, a real
estate dealer of O'Neill, Nebraska, all of
whom were born in Lewis county, New York,
except Mary, who was born in Holt county,
Nebraska. In 1879, Thomas and Mary Mc-
Donald Morrow moved with their family from
Lewis county. New York, to Holt county, Ne-
braska, where they settled upon a homestead
and continued to reside until 1906 when they
sold the homestead. They then went to Den-
ver where they remained for about one year
and moved from there to Scottsbluft, Nebras-
ka, where they now reside.
Thomas M. Morrow received his early edu-
cational training in the public schools of Holt
county, Nebraska, and in 1892 graduated from
the Fremont normal school. During the fol-
lowing year he was principal of the public
schools of Oakdale, Antelope county, Nebras-
ka, and during the next year superintendent of
the public schools of O'Neill, Holt county, Ne-
braska. While engaged in educational work,
he also pursued the study of law and was ad-
mitted to the bar in February, 1894. In Sep-
tember of the same year he began the practice
of law at Gering, Nebraska, where he re-
mained until 1899. In 1896, he was united in
marriage to Miss Lizzie Carlon. On October
26, 1897, William and Mary Morrow, twins,
were born of this marriage at Gering, Ne-
braska.
While located at Gering, Nebraska, Mr.
Morrow acquired a reputation a? a lawyer
which was far above the average practitioner
in western Nebraska. In 1899, Mr. Morrow
desiring to enter a broader field for the prac-
tice of his profession, moved to Omaha with
his family with the intention of making that
city his permanent home. Shortly after
establishing himself in the practice of law in
Omaha, his wife's health commenced to fail
and he was compelled to move to Denver in
the following year for the benefit of ' her
health. Lloping that the climate of Denver
would soon restore her health, he abandoned
all idea of returning to Omaha and opened a
law office in Denver, but her condition gradu-
ally grew worse and she died in April, 1901.
On June 13, 1907, he was again married to
ilargaret L. Rank and they have two daugh-
ters. Lettie and Catherine, aged respectively
eleven and seven years. Owing to the reputa-
tion acquired by him while located at Gering,
Nebraska, he was from time to time, while
living in Denver, called back to western Ne-
braska for the trial of important cases.
In 1903, his brother, William Morrow,
graduated from the law school of the Univer-
sity of Nebraska, and for three years there-
after was associated with him in the practice
of law in Denver. The two brothers realized
the great possibilities of the North Platte
Valley and in 1906 shortly after the construc-
tion of irrigation ditches in the valley was be-
gun on a large scale, it was decided that Wil-
liam Morrow should open a law office in
ScottsblufT and conduct the business under the
firm name of Morrow & Morrow. Although
it was then thoroughly understood that the
connection of Thomas M. Morrow with the
firm was limited to such cases as he actually
and personally assisted in trying, yet all of his
former friends and clients brought their bus-
iness to William, and in a few years his bus-
iness grew beyond the capacity of any one
man to handle it. In 1915, Thomas M. Mor-
row came to Scottsbluft' and entered into an
equal partnership with his brother in the prac-
tice of law. Tiie\- continued the firm name
of Morrow & Morrow. This firm handles a
large proportion of the important law bus-
iness in Scottsblufif and surrounding counties.
Both members of the firm are considered
among the best lawyers of the state and have
participated in nearly all of the important liti-
gation of western Nebraska. They are held
in the highest esteem by the general public,
and their business is constantly growing.
Thomas M. Morrow belongs to the Roman
Catholic church, is a member of the Denver
council of Knights of Columbus, the Modern
Woodmen of America, and other fraternal
organizations. He has a wide circle of friends
here and in all other places where he resided.
CHARLES F. COFFEE. — Few men in
Nebraska are better known in the cattle busi-
ness than Charles F. Coflfee, an honored resi-
dent of Chadron, and his interests in this line
connect him with this great industry through-
out the entire country. Mr. Cofifee has been
closely identified with the development of
western Nebraska for many years and his spir-
it of public sen'ice, marked even in boyhood,
and his gift of business organization, have
been vitally helpful over a long e.xtended per-
iod. He is an important factor in political
life and a dominant one in the state in the fi-
nancial field.
Charles F. Coitee was born March 22, 1847,
at Greenfield. Dade county, Missouri, a son
of John T. and Harriet L. '(Ware) Coft'ee, the
30
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
latter of whom died in 1863, in Dade county.
Of the six children born to his parents, Charles
F. is the only one living in Dawes county at the
present time. One brother was accidentally
killed in Wyoming, in 1879, and another. Sam-
uel B. Coffee, died at Harrison, in Sioux coun-
ty, after which his family moved to Chadron.
John T. Coft'ee, father' of C. F. Coffee, was
born in Tennessee and educated for the law
and in 1855, through the good offices of Hon-
orable John S. Phelps of Missouri, was award-
ed a commission as captain in the regular army
and in 1856 or 1857 was elected a member of
the Missouri Legislature and chosen speaker
of the house. In 1861, he raised a very effi-
cient regiment of soldiers for the confederacy,
serving under General Price and General
Sheby of Missouri, and was in all the battle
of any note during the war. He distinguished
himself on many occasions by unusual brav-
ery and military tactics. On one occasion at
the Battle of Lone Jack, capturing a body of
Federal troops, almost unaided and was pro-
moted to colonel. However, after the war be-
tween the states was over, being tired of mili-
tary life he resumed the practice of law and
drifted to Georgetown, Texas, and continued
to follow this vocation till his death in 1893,
at the age of seventy-five yeais.
During boyhood Charles F. Coffee had but
indifferent educational opportunities in ref-
erence to school training, but the practical
lessons he learned while earning his own living
from the age of twelve years, were doubtless,
of far more value to him in after days than
any knowledge he could have absorbed from
textbooks. When the Civil War came on he
succeeded in being accepted as a soldier in
the Confederate anny although only thirteen
years of age. He was mainly engaged in his
father's regiment and after the war closed
went to Texas and tried several lines of in-
dustry, with very indifferent results. He farm-
ed some, clerked in a store awhile, then owned
a store and went broke. Mr. Coffee tried rais-
ing cotton, but the prices went down and the
young financier went with it, and in 1871, he
hired as a "cowboy" to help drive a herd of
about eighteen hundred head of longhorns
from Texas to Cheyenne, Wyoming, for
Snyder Brothers. Young Charles showed such
ability for his work that in one month he was
promoted to foreman and his pay advanced
twenty dollars. He worked for this company
two years trailing cattle from Texas to Wy-
oming and remembers a circumstance which
happened on the first drive. The first white
man they struck in Wyoming was the station
agent at Pine Bluff. This was tlie entire popu-
lation at that time, and the little box depot
the only building. .Mr. Coffee entered the door
and the agent was facing the other way and did
not deign to look around. In the ticket win-
dow facing the cow puncher was a human skull
and neatly printed on the forehead were these
words. This man zuas talked to death bv im-
migrants. Mr. Coff'ee after surveying this
gruesome object for a short time mustered up
courage to say, "Mister, I may be committing
a rash act by disturbing you sir, but I am
strictly in it. I am driving a large bunch of
cattle to Cheyenne. I understand from here
on water is scarce, can you tell me where the
next watering place is located ?" The agent
proved to be a very pleasant man after all,
but knew nothing about watering places, all
he knew was to board the train and go through
to water. The herd was driven all that day
and a dry camp made, with no water for the
cattle: they drove the next day till about one
o'clock and the cattle were beginning to get
pretty well fagged, when they fortunately
struck a creek with a sandy bottom but no
water, but found a place that still showed
dampness. Mr. Coff'ee held his herd on this
wet sand and milled the cattle around and
packed the sand until the water raised suffi-
ciently to water them. The next day they
came out in sight of a beautiful lake of water
and could see Cheyenne in the distance — the
sight was a glorious one and the cowboys
shouted with delight and the cattle scenting
the water were bellowing as they made a wild
stampede for the water, and were soon up to
their sides enjoying the first good drink they
had had since leaving Pine Bluffs. Looking
down towards the town they saw a cloud of
dust rapidly nearing them and discovered it
was caused by a horseman coming toward
them. They did not have long to wait to find
what the trouble was, as a very red faced and
angry man reined up in front of them and
shouted, "Get your cattle out of here, I am
the mayor of Cheyenne." One of the boys
said, "The H — you are, we thought you was
the butcher and wanted to buy some beef."
This enraged the mayor to such an extent that
he was in danger of having apoplexy. "Don't
you know," he shouted, "this is the reservoir
from which CheyeniUe draws her drinking
water?" Mr. CofJee tried to reason and con-
ciliate him for nearly twenty-five minutes ; he
getting madder every minute, but by this time
the cattle had satisfied their thirst and did not
object to be again on the move to Cheyenne.
Mr. Snyder met them ; he had sold the cattle
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
31
to a rancher by the name of J. H. Durban and
Mr. Coffee drove the herd to Pole Creek about
thirteen miles away where the nearest grass
and water could be found, and tallied the cat-
tle out. He was then ordered to deliver the
cattle to Mr. Durban's ranch about twenty
miles distance and all his instructions consist-
ed of was to follow a line of small cedar trees
which Mr. Durban had cut and set in a line to
mark the way to his ranch. He was told to
line his cattle out single file and beat a road to
the ranch which he did and that same cattle
trail is the present road which Mr. Coffee
started with his cattle nearly fifty years ago.
In 1879 Mr. Coffee homesteaded and pre-
empted land in Sioux county, Nebraska, this
land never since having gone out of his pos-
session, its location being in Hat Creek Basin.
In 1873, when he established his first ranch,
in Goshen Hole, Wyoming, sixty-five miles
north of Cheyenne, his nearest neighbor in
one direction was eighteen miles distant and
twenty-seven in the other. At that time the
Platte river was the dividing line between the
white settlers and the Indians, but the latter
notably evaded every law, making the carry-
ing and often the use of a gun an actual ne-
cessity and Mr. Coffee for six years never
went to the spring for water without carrying
his trusty rifle. With other settlers Mr. Coffee
lost heavily in stock at times, and once, in 1877,
while he was away on a trip to the nearest
town, Indians stole every horse on the ranch,
all he had left being the four animals he had
been driving. In an interesting way he tells
how the horses were taught to recognize dan-
ger when they heard shooting, and seemingly
with almost human intelligence, would gallop
to the corral for safety, led by a favorite horse
which the Indians killed to demoralize the
herd so they could drive them away, but the
plan was not a success, as the horses scattered
and he rounded them up the next day. Those
early ranch days were hard on both man and
beast and Mr. Coffee relates that often he
would be out searching for his horses and cat-
tle for three weeks without removing his cloth-
ing. Mr. Coffee ran cattle for about thirty
years before quitting the range.
In partnership with his eldest son, John
T. Coffee, Mr. Coffee owns twenty-one thou-
sand acres of land, all being operated, the son
being foreman. It is known as the Square
3-Bar ranch, brand Z, and there about six hun-
dred calves are branded yearly. Mr. Coffee
owns also a ranch of about fifteen thousand
acres, near Lusk, Wyoming, in partnership
with a Mr. Tinnan, where they brand fifteen
hundred calves annually, the brand being the
0-10, this ranch being known as the 0-10 Bar.
A part of this land is irrigated. Mr. Coffee in
the beginning stock his ranches with regis-
tered cattle, and has kept his. line of White
Face cattle thoroughbred but has not contin-
ued registration. He probably owns ten thou-
sand head of White Face cattle.
In April, 1879, Mr. Coffee was married at
Camden, Arkansas, to Miss Jennie A. Toney,
who died in November, 1906. Her parents
were James R. and Jane (McClain) Toney, her
father being a merchant and a former slave-
holder. Mr. and Mrs. Coffee had four chil-
dren, the three survivors being as follows :
John T., who is associated with his father as
above mentioned ; Blanche M., who resides
with her father at Chadron ; and Charles F.,
who is vice-president of the First National
Bank of Chadron.
Mr. Coffee first became interested in banking
in 1888, when he became president of the
Commercial Bank of Harrison, Nebraska,
which he converted into a National bank and
afterward sold his interest. In 1900. he be-
came connected as vice-president, with the
First National Bank of Chadron, of which
he subsequently became president. In 1900,
he bought the bank at Gordon, Nebraska, serv-
ing first as its president and still is a director.
In 1912, he still further added to his financial
interest by the purchase of the First National
Bank of Hay Springs, in Sheridan county, be-
coming its president, and at the same time
bought stock in the Stockyards National Bank
of South Omaha, of which institution he con-
tinues to be a director. In 1911, Mr. Coffee
and F. W. Clark bought the Nebraska Na-
tional of Omaha, of which he is vice-president,
and in 1915. Mr. Coft'ee bought the First Na-
tional Bank, of Douglas, Wyoming, of which
he is president. He owns considerable valu-
able real estate at Chadron, both residential
and business, and erected the Coffee-Pitman
building, a modem garage and other struc-
tures.
In political life Mr. Coffee has always been
a Democrat. In 1900, he was the fusion
candidate for state representative from the
53d District, was nominated on the Demo-
cratic ticket and endorsed by the Populists
and served in 1901. so acceptably that he re-
ceived the party vote for United States sena-
tor, but declined to accept. Personally he is
esteemed and in all business relations bears
an unimpeachable character.
32
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
WILLIAM MORROW, who is recognized
as one of the ablest members of the Scotts-
bluff bar, established the business now con-
ducted under the style of Morrow & Morrow,
when he came to this city in May, 1906. He
belongs to a pioneer family of the state, and
with the exception of three years spent in Col-
orado, has lived here since 1879.
William Morrow was bom in Lewis county,
New York, April 10, 1875, a son of Thomas
and Mary (McDonald) Morrow, both of
whom were born in Ireland. They came to
the United States at an early age and lived in
the state of New York until 1879, when they
came to Nebraska. The father homesteaded
in Holt county and continued there until 1906,
when he sold the homestead and in the fol-
lowing year he and wife retired to Scottsbluff,
where they yet reside. They are well kown
in this city and are highly esteemed and re-
spected by all who know them. They have
children as follows : John, receiver of public
funds of the United States land office at Al-
liance, Nebraska; Thomas M., a member of
the law firm of Morrow & Morrow, at Scotts-
bluff, of whom personal mention is found on
other pages of this work ; Lavinia, a teacher
in the public schools at Bayard, Nebraska ;
William, who resides and owns property at
Scottsblufif ; Anna, the wife of George Cron-
kleton, cashier of the First National Bank at
Bayard ; Frank, a prominent surgeon in active
practice at Columbus, Nebraska, and Mary,
the wife of J. P. Golden, who is in the real
estate and abstract business at O'Neil. Ne-
braska.
William Morrow attended the public schools
and was graduated from the high school of
Atkinson, Holt county. In 1897 he entered
the Nebraska State University, and in 1903
was graduated from the law department of
that institution. The same year he estab-
lished himself in practice at Denver, where he
remained until May, 1906, when he came to
Scottsblufif. Here he engaged in the practice
of law, continuing alone until 1916 when he
former a partnership with his brother. Thomas
M. Morrow, under the firm name of Morrow
& Morrow. This firm has a wide and sound
reputation and individually its members are
accounted astute lawyers and honorable men.
The business of the firm covers a wide terri-
tory.
On September 18, 1912, Mr. Morrow was
united in marriage to Miss Philomena Cong-
don, who was born at Flint, Michigan, and
they have had three children, namely : Helen,
who is five years old ; William, who died at
the age of fourteen months, and John Philip,
who is not yet a year and a half old. Mr. and
Mrs. Morrow are members of the Roman
Catholic church. He is active in Democratic
politics in the county, formerly was city attor-
ney of Scottsblufl:' and was county attorney
from 1907 to 1911. Fraternally he is identi-
fied with the Knights of Columbus, the Elks,
the Royal Highlanders and the Woodmen of
the World.
During the World War Mr. Morrow almost
abandoned the practice of his profession and
devoted himself almost entirely to the vari-
ous war activities. He was the first financial
chairman of the Red Cross of Scottsblufif
county, was a member of the County Council
of Defense, a member of the Liberty Loan
Committee, town chairman of the \\'ar Savings
campaign, besides serving on various other
committees of less importance.
ARTHUR R. HONNOLD, LL.B., an able
member of the Scottsblufif bar, is devoting his
entire attention to private practice. He is a
Nebraska man, bom, reared and educated in
fhe state, and has all the local pride in the re-
sources, development and wonderful progress
of his native commonwealth, that marks the
true Nebraskan. Mr. Honnold was born
March 7, 1876, at Ord, Nebraska.
The parents of Mr. Honnold were Richard
and Eceneith (McMichael) Honnold, both of
whom were born in Ohio. His father died on
his farm in Valley county, Nebraska, April 6,
1906, at the age of fifty-five years, and his
mother now resides at Denver, Colorado. Of
the three survivors of their family of four
children, Arthur Rankin is the eldest, the two
others being Irving T., who is secretary of an
oil company at Louisville, Kentucky, and
Chester W., who returned to private life, and
his former occupation as a druggist, when
honorably discharged from military service in
the American Expeditionary Forces, in
March, 1919. His sister, Nora (Honnold)
Cromwell, died at Thomas, Oklahoma, in 1919.
The father of the above family came to Ne-
braska, and homesteaded near Ord, in Valley
county, in 1874, and engaged in farming there
until the close of his life. In politics he was a
Republican.
Arthur R. Honnold graduated from the high
school at Ord, in 1898, and from the Grand
Island business college in 1902. His first ofifi-
cial work was as a state accountant at Lincoln,
Nebraska, where he remained two years. He
entered the University of Nebraska, graduat-
ing from the law department in 1904-, whh an
LL.B. degree. The same year, he entered into
the practice of his profession at Ord, but three
'X^-u.tz^Ly^ Cj 7^-e.^i::^^^zr^rJ^
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
33
years later moved to Denver, Colorado, for
[! family health reasons. He continued his law
[j practice in his new home until 1909, when he
I' I was appointed district counsel of the United
1 1 States Reclamation Service, which legal divi-
i! sion includes the states of Nebraska, Wyom-
ing, South Dakota, and Oklahoma, and the
onerous duties of this position he performed
for ten years.
Desiring to resume private practice of law,
'. Mr. Honnold resigned his federal office on
' April 1, 1919, the government thereby losing
j a faithful and tireless official. In connection
with his general practice, he now gives special
i attention to irrigation and water law. and to
' oil and corporation practice.
In 1904, Mr. Honnold was united in mar-
I riage with Miss Julia Christiansen, who was
I born at Le Seuer, Minnesota, she dying in
I Denver, in 1909. Mr. Honnold's second mar-
i riage took place in 1912, to Miss Marguerita
i E. Van Horn, who was born in Belle Bourche,
South Dakota. They have one son, Arthur
Rankin, Jr. The family attends the Episcopal
church at Scottsbluff. In his political attitude,
Mr. Honnold is a Republican. Fraternally, he
belongs to the Masons and Eastern Star organ-
izations, and also to the Modern Brotherhood
of America, and the Modern Woodmen. A
man of intellectual strength and wide reading,
historical facts have always engaged his inter-
est, and he has been a member of the Nebraska
State Historical Society for a number of years.
CHAREES ELMER LOCKWOOD. — In
noting the representative men of the Pan-
handle who qualify as early settlers, there are
few who came here with more determined pur-
pose to secure a permannt home in what was
then a veritable wilderness than the man
whose name heads this review. Pioneer, farm-
er, stock-raiser and real estate dealer, he has
played an important part in the development
of Boone and Kimball counties and it is to
such men that the opening up and settlement
of the Panhandle has been due, as he came
here in the early days, had courage to hold out
during the hard years of drought, winter bliz-
zards and other hardships, for he had faith in
the country and this has been justified, for
today there are few more prosperous men in
this section and not many of them, have
achieved such a fortune with so small a start.
Mr. Lockwood was born in Odessa, Iowa,
June 9, 1866, the son of Alfred O.. and Mary
Vesta Lockwood, the former born in Dela-
ware, December 21, 1841. He was reared and
educated in his native state, then came west
as did so many young men of the period, to
engage in farming and stock-raising in Iowa.
During the Civil War Alfred Lockwood en-
listed in the Union Army as a member of the
Iowa Volunteers, serving till peace was estab-
lished, when he returned to his farm and soon
afterward married. His wife was the daugh-
ter of Aaron and Mary Brown. Eight chil-
dren were born to this union : Ella, became
the wife of Frank Phillips, both now de-
ceased ; Charles Elmer, of this review ; Birt
O., who lives in Roseburg, Oregon ; Maggie
M., the wife of Fred Kinney, of Ellenburg,
Washington ; Emily S.. the wife of James Gar-
ner, of Rathdrum. Idaho; Alfred J. D., a
farmer of this county ; Carrie Pearl, the wife
of Mr. Ring, Falls City, Oregon.
In 1878 the Lockwood family left Iowa as
the father was desirous to secure some of the
good cheap land in Nebraska. Coming to this
state he located on the prairies of Boone coun-
ty, took up a large tract of land and so became
one of the earliest settlers of this section.
He worked hard to place as much land as
possible under cultivation but passed away
January 5, 1885 and was followed by his
wife almost a year later, leaving the family
of children alone. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood
were members of the Methodist Episcopal
church and its staunch supporters in the new
territory in Boone county.
With the death of the father, the care
of the family fell upon the shoulders of
Charles I,ockwood, then a young man of nine-
teen years. He had been reared on the
ranch, early learned the practical side of
farm industry and cattle raising and so as-
sumed entire charge of 'the business. In
1887, Mr. Lockwood bought the ranch when
it was sold to settle his father's estate, he
borrowed every dollar it cost as he had noth-
ing of his own to start with and the old home-
stead became the start of his extensive ranch-
ing properties, for he continued to buy more
land as he had the money and saw where he
could buy advantageously, until he was the
owner of 5,400 acres of grazing and farm
property in a solid body. Most of this lay in
the famous Beaver Valley and nearby. Start-
ing with little but his determination to suc-
ceed, and his known ability, which gave him
excellent credit, Mr. Lockwood began to
handle from 1,000 to 1,500 head of sheep and
from three to six hundred head of cattle,
about 500 head of hogs and in addition pas-
tured many hundred head of cattle and horses.
N. P. Dodge, a distant relative, believed in the
young man and it was through him that credit
was obtained in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This
34
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Dodge was a brother of the well-known Gen.
G. M. Dodge, of Union Pacific fame.
In 1909 Mr. Lockwood sold his ranch in
Boone county and came to Kimball county, lo-
cating his home in the town of Kimball in
1910. He at once bought several sections of
land here and at the same time conducted a
real estate office. During the short time he
was engaged in this business, Mr. Lockwood
sold a large amount of land in the county.
From time to time he has purchased other
ranch property and today holds some 8,000
acres of valuable Kimball county land. He
has invested in property in the states of Ore-
gon and Florida, owns valuable holdings in
the city of Kimball and has a fine home at
Long Beach, California and today is regarded
as one of the successful and substantial citi-
zens of Nebraska, where he has resided for
more than forty years.
January 8, 1890, Mr. Lockwood married
Mrs. Abbie Derbyshire, the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Joseph St. Louis, of Boone county,
Nebraska. They were of French Canadian an-
cestry, though born near Oswego, New York.
Three children were born to this union : Myr-
tle, the wife of Roy H. Kennedy, a merchant
of Grand Island, Nebraska, and they have two
fine children; Joseph Alfred, associated with
his father in business is now farming in Kim-
ball county, this son entered the army during
the World War and was sent to Manhattan,
Kansas, for his training and received his hon-
orable discharge at the close of the war; and
Lloyd Lincoln, who married Miss Nellie Rose,
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Rose,
of Kimball county. This son entered the army
during the World War and was sent to Camp
Funston for his training. At the signing of
the Armistice he received his honorable dis-
charge and returned home and has been asso-
ciated with his father in the real estate busi-
ness. ' Mrs. Lockwood died Dec. 21, 1899, in
Boone county. She was a member of the
Christian church and the Royal Neighbors.
January 2, 1901, Mr. Lockwood was married a
second time to Mrs. Anna R. Sams, the daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Brooks, of Car-
thage, Missouri, where they had settled at an
early day and became well and favorably
known in the southwestern part of the state.
Three children have been born to this union:
Charles Oliver Martin, now in high school in
Kimball and a well-known athlete of the west-
ern part of Nebraska; Nadine Onetta, also
in the high school, and Odetta Vesta attending
the grade schools.
For over thirty years Mr. Lockwood has
been a member of the Modern Woodmen of
America, he is also a member of the Ancient
Order of United Workmen and the Royal
Highlanders, while the family are members of
the Presbyterian church in which the children
take an active part, as Charles has served as
delegate to the Christian Endeavor Society
conventions of the state.
Mr. Lockwood is one of the progressive
men of his community, stands for progress
and advocates those measures which tend to
the upbuilding of his county and city ; for
years he has been a leading factor in every
important public-spirited movement promul-
gated and his high standing in business circles
makes his influence a valued and valuable one.
JOHN B. COOK, one of the younger gen-
eration of business men at Scottsblufif, is set-
ting an example in energy and enterprise that
may well be imitated. Within the compara-
tively short period that he has resided here, he
has displayed business ability of a high order,
and has exhibited both business and social
qualities that reflect credit on his upbringing.
Mr. Cook was born in his parents' beautiful
home at Beatrice, Nebraska, March 24, 1897,
the youngest of four children born to Daniel
Wolford and Elizabeth (Case) Cook.
The late Daniel Wolford Cook, was a man
of large affairs in Gage county, Nebraska,
where his death occurred in March, 1916. He
was born March 27, 1860, at Hillsdale, Mich-
igan, a son of John P. and Martha (Wolford)
Cook, and a descendant in a direct line from
William Bradford, who came to the shores of
America in 1620, in the Mayflower, and who
for thirty years was governor of Plymouth
colony. His great-great-granddaughter, Mary
Bradford, who married Captain David Cook,
who distinguished himself in the Revolution-
ary War. But Daniel Wolford Cook needed
no long line of illustrious ancestors to estab-
lish his place in the historj- of his country or
the hearts of his fellow men. In his thirty
years of active business life at Beatrice, he
was largely, although not exclusively, interest-
ed in the Beatrice National Bank and was
president of its board of directors from 1905
until his death. He devoted a part of his time
to agricultural pursuits, and took much inter-
est in the breeding of fine stock. In business,
however, especially banking, Mr. Cook was
best known. From 1891 until his demise, he
was vice president of the Bankers Life Insur-
ance Company of Lincoln, Nebraska, and in
this enterprise was associated with large finan-
ciers in the state. Always interested in the
growth and development of Beatrice from the
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
35
time he located there in 1884, he contributed
generously to many public enterprises, notably
to the establishment of the numerous beautiful
parks of the city. His marriage to Miss Eliz-
abeth Case was celebrated December 22, 1883,
and the following children were born to them :
Daniel Wolford, cashier of the Beatrice Na-
tional Bank ; Mary E., the wife of William C.
Ramsey, of Omaha ; William W., who was ac-
cidentally drowned in the Big Blue river, in
August, 1905, and John Bradford, who is now
■ a resident of Scottsbluff. A more extended
memoir of Mr. Cook may be found in the His-
tory of Gage county, recently issued by the
Western Publishing & Engraving Company.
John Bradford Cook was graduated from
the Beatrice high school in 1914, and from the
State University in 1918, in March of the lat-
ter year coming to Scottsbluff. Here he was
bookkeeper in the First National Bank for
four months, at the end of which period he
entered the naval service on the United States
Steamer Philadelphia and belongs yet to the
reserves. On his return to Scottsbluff, he
went into the real estate and farm loan busi-
ness and sold $70,000 worth of real estate dur-
ing his first month of eft'ort. He proposes to
continue in this line and also to utilize his 1080
acres of irrigated land in cattle feeding, going
into this as a profitable prospect and as a patri-
otic measure.
At Chadron, Nebraska, Mr. Cook was
united in marriage to Miss Edna Coffee, who
is a daughter of Buffington Coffee. She is a
highly accomplished lady, was educated in the
Chadron schools and the State University, and
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Mr. Cook retains his interest and
membership in his college fraternity, the Phi
Kappa Psi.
FRANK A. McCREARY, mayor of Scotts-
bluff', has been an active business man of this
city for a number of years. Because of his
sterling character and upstanding American
citizenship, he has been a man of influence in
the community, and his circle of friendly ac-
quaitance reaches all over the state. He was
born in Ashtabula county, Ohio. March 23,
1868, a son of James and Catherine (Craig)
McCreary.
Mayor McCreary's parents came to Nebras-
ka from Illinois. The father was born in
Lawrence county, Pennsvlvania, September
26, 1838, and the mother 'in 1843. She is a
much esteemed resident of Scottsbluff, but the
father died here in March, 1919. In politics
he was a Republican, and he belonged to the
order of Modern Woodmen. He was one of
the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal church.
in which organization the mother of Mayor
McCreary continues to be active. Of their
family of five children three survive : Craig,
who is associated with his brother in business ;
Frank A., who is mayor of Scottsbluff, and
Lula, the wife of William Bentley, who is a
merchant at Morrill, Nebraska. After their
marriage in Pennsylvania, James McCreary
and wife moved to Ohio, from thereto Illinois,
and in 1873 to Nebraska. Mr. McCreary
homesteaded in Buffalo county and lived on
his land there until 1890, when he moved to
Shelton, and from there came to Scottsbluff
m 1915: 1192387
Frank A. McCreary spent his early life on
a farm and attended school at Shelton, where
he later embarked in the mercantile business
and remained so occupied for five years. In
1899 he came to Scottsbluff county and re-
mained one year at Gering, in business as a
general merchant, then came to Scottsbluff
and formed a partership with George B. Lift.
Within a year he bought his partner's interest
and continued the business alone for another
year, when his brother Craig also came to
Scottsbluff. Since then the brothers have
been associated under the firm style of Mc-
Creary Bros. The business has been expanded
to include undertaking, while in the handling
of general hardware, furniture, rugs, quees-
wars and musical instruments, no other house
in the county approaches them in complete
lines or value of stocks.
In 1901 Mr. McCreary was united in mar-
riage to Miss Madalaide Robb, who was born
in Texas, daughter of Seymour Robb. fonner-
ly sheriff" of Cheyenne. Wyoming. They have
one child, Lorraine, who is attending school.
Mrs. McCreary is a member of the Presby-
terian church. Mayor McCreary is a Scottish
Rite Mason and a Shriner and belongs also to
the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen.
Since early manhood he has been zealous in
the interests of the Republican party, and on
numerous occasions has been selected as its
candidate for public office. He was a member
of the first village board of Scottsbluff', and
served one term as coronor of this county. On
April 1, 1919. he was elected mayor, and being
a thorough business man as well as public-
spirited citizen, commanding the support of
the best element of the public. Mayor Mc-
Creary will undoubtedly give the city an ad-
mirable administration. With the added pres-
sure of public responsibility to his business
cares, he decided to part with his fine farm of
one hundred and sixty acres of irrigated land,
and a satisfactory sale has recently been ef-
fected.
36
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
FRANKLIN E. NEELEY, cashier of the
Gering National Bank, came to the institution
in this capacity, in May, 1910, at which time
he had the distinction of being the youngest
bank cashier in the state of Nebraska. Mr.
Neeley has continued with the bank ever since,
an obHging yet careful, conservative official
who holds its interests paramount, although
necessarily giving some attention to other en-
terprises in which he is individually concerned,
and to the duties that several public offices im-
pose.
Franklin E. Neely was born at Fremont,
Nebraska, August 21, 1890, a son of Robert
F. Neeley, one of the old and substantial resi-
dents of Scottsblufif county. Mr. Neeley is
indebted to Fremont, Gering, and Omaha for
thorough educational training. Following his
graduation from the Gering high school in
1907, he entered Creighton College, where he
took a business and a law course. His bank-
ing experience began in 1909, at Sheridan,
Wyoming, shortly afterward transferring to
the Scottsblufi" National Bank, where he re-
mained a year and then came to the Gering
National Bank as an executive. His early life
had been spent on a farm, but his talents so
unmistakably indicated a business career that
it was the part of good judgment to educa-
tionally prepare for commercial life. For
eight years Mr. Neeley has been in charge of
the finances of Gering, being both school treas-
urer and city treasurer. He also supervises
the management of three farms.
In 1916 Mr. Neeley maried Miss Ruth Car-
roll, who was born at Butte, Montana, moved
later to Michigan, but was educated in the
University of Nebraska. She is a member of
the Episcopal church. Mr. Neeley is a Scot-
tish Rite Mason and a Shriner. In his polit-
ical views he is a Democrat with independent
tendencies.
SEVERIN SORENSEN. who is one of the
best known men in the brick industry at Ger-
ing, Nebraska, has built up a fine business as a
brick manufacturer and contractor since he
came to this city in 190S. He has supplied
brick for many off the finest structures here
and has a solid reputation as a business man.
Mr. Sorenson was born in Denmark and lived
there until he was thirteen years old.
The parents of Mr. Sorenson were Jens P.
and Christiana (Jensen) Sorenson, natives of
Denmark. They had ten children and Severin,
who was born November 21, 1855, was the
fourth in order of birth. They came to Ameri-
ca and settled at Avoca. Iowa, June 22, 1869,
where the father worked at brickmaking, mov-
ing later to Harlan, in Shelby county, where
both parents of Mr. Sorenson died. They were
members of the Baptist church.
Severin Sorenson attended school in Den-
mark and after accompanying his parents to
the United States, worked for three years on
an Iowa farm. He knew that his father's
trade was a good one and chose the same for
himself, learning brickmaking at Council
Blufifs, where he worked four years. He then
located at Harlan. Iowa, where he began con-
tracting and remained until 1882, when he
transferred his business to Minden, Nebraska,
where he made brick and engaged in brick con-
tracting until 1889 and then moved to Denver,
Colorado. At that time business prospects
in his line were very promising at Denver and
Mr. Sorenson accepted many large contracts,
on the most of which he lost heavily when a
business panic paralyzed all industries. Hence,
when he came to Gering in 1908, Mr. Sorenson
practically had to begin all over again. He has
much more than retrieved his fortunes since
coming here and is in comfartable circum-
stances.
On August 2, 1881, Mr. Sorenson was unit-
ed in marriage to Miss Anna Markusen, who
was born also in Denmark, and they have the
following children, a large family, the mem-
bers of which are respected wherever known:
Carl, who is a carpenter and bricklayer, at
Gering; Herman, who is in partnership with
his father; May, who is the wife of Bernee
Knudson, of Denver, Colorado ; Emma, who is
the wife of Dr. Warrick, in the garage busi-
ness at Scottsbluff; Louis, who has but re-
cently been discharged from military service,
entered the National army in Decemljer, 1917,
was first assigned to duty in Texas, later in
New York and still later in England, where
he was in the air service ; Peter, who entered
military service in the fall of 1917, remained in
the training camp at Fort Funston until he
was honorably discharged in January, 1917;
Anna, who is the wife of R. W. Smith, now a
farmer northwest of Morrill, but previously
the contractor who built the Fraternity build-
ing at Gering; and Otto, Martin, Raymond,
Walter and Helen, all of whom live with their
parents. Mr. Sorenson has never been an
office seeker, but he is intelligently interested
in public aff'airs and gives ihs political sup-
port to the Democratic party. He is a member
in good standing of the Gering lodge of Odd
Fellows.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
37
CAPTAIN ALBERT M. PETITE, one of
Nebraska's most gallant sons who twice has
responded to his countrj-'s call and offered the
greatest gift a man possesses, his life, as a
soldier of the United States, is one of the best
known and most popular of the business men
of Scottsbluff county and the city of Scotts-
blufT itself where he has been in the real
estate business for many years. The captain is
a true American patriot in whose veins flows
the blood of a long line of French ancestors
who played an important part in France and
later in the French settlements of America, and
the representative of the present generation
but lives up to the high standard attained by
the forebears of his race and as Theodore
Rossevelt so often has said "blood will tell."
Albert May Petite was born at Fon du Lac,
Wisconsin, June 13, 1868, just at the close of
the Civil War and it may be that some of the
iron resolution, indomitable courage and de-
termination, a spirit that permeated the north
during that memorable conflict may have en-
tered into his mental make up for he has
proved himself a veritable son of Mars. His
ancestors were among the French settlers who
came to Wisconsin at an early day when the
thoroughfare to the West from Quebec and
Montreal lay up the great lakes, down Green
Bay, then known by the French name of '"Le
Baye," up the Fox river to "the portage" now
Portage and thence down the Wisconsin to the
Mississippi. The descendants of these fine old
French families are still to be found along
this old route and a fine race they have proved
to be. Albert Petite received his excellent
educational advantages in the schools of Iowa,
and it was from that state that he enlisted
when President McKinley called for volun-
teers at the outbreak of the war with Spain.
After entering the service in 1898 he was as-
signed to the Second Regiment, United States
Engineers for service in Cuba, as first lieuten-
ant of his company. Following the close of
the Cuban campaign he took part in the re-
construction work accomplished by the United
States before turning over the island to the
Cuban government, and for some time was in
charge of the old fortress Moro Castle and
also of Cabanas, which guard the entrance to
Havana harbor. Captain Petite has many in-
teresting stories to tell of the greusome dis-
coveries made by him while in charge of the
work of cleaning up and putting in a sanitary
condition, these old fortresses which for hun-
dreds of years under the Spanish regime had
been landmarks of terror and dread to the
inhabitants of the Island. During the Philip-
pine Insurrection, Captain Petite served in the
islands under Colonel — now General— BuUard
as first lieutenant of the infantry, Thirty
Ninth regiment and was twice wounded in a
battle near Manila. When peace was finally
established in the Philippines, the captain re-
signed from the service to return to peaceful
pursuits. After returning to the United States
he returned to his home in Iowa where he en-
gaged in handling real estate until 1910. leav-
ing in that state his son William C. Petite of
Des Moines, who has two children, William C,
Jr., and Man,' Louise, and a daughter. Grace
Celia, the wife of Donald McGiffen of Fair-
field, and they have one son, Donald, Jr.
Coming to the Panhandle in 1910, Captain
Petite located in the city of Scottsbluff, opened
a real estate office and was engaged in busi-
ness here alone until he formed an association
with the Payne Investment Company after
which he handled the land and water right end
of the business for the firm. In politics Cap-
tain Petite has been a member of the Republi-
can party since he cast his first vote, has taken
a somewhat active part in local political circles
but has never been willing to accept public
oft'ice himself, but ever throwing his influence
to the man be believed best fitted to serve the
people.
On November 23, 1910. Captain Petite mar-
ried Miss Ruby L. Wildy, who was born at
Lenzburg, Illinois. March 23, 1887, the daugh-
ter of Albert and Carrie W. (Dueker) Wildy,
early settlers of Scottsbluff where they now re-
side. Mrs. Petite's father built the first two-
story building in the town and thus is num-
bered among the honored pioneers of this sec-
tion. When he first came to the Panhandle
Mr. Wildy took up a homestead in Bo.x Butte
county where he operated a frontier hotel for
the accommodation of travelers as towns were
few and far apart and people could make the
trip from one to the next in a day. This
first land was homesteaded in 1887 and it was
but recently that Mr. Wildy disposed of it at
a most satisfactory figure. Later a postoffice
named Melinda was established on his ranch,
his wife being the first postmistress. He and
his wife are charter members of the Methodist
Epicopal church, to which both Captain and
Mrs. Petite also belong. Mrs. Petite has one
brother, Clinton D. Wildy, cashier of the
American State Bank of Scottsbluff.
Captain Petite did not entirely give up mili-
tary life upon his discharge from the army and
upon returning home he became captain of a
company in Fifty-fifth Regiment, Iowa Na-
tional Guard, thus a third time entering the
38
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
service of his country and of the state. When
the United States declared war against Ger-
many he again placed himself and his services
at the disposal of his countrj- and volunteered
for any branch of the anny where he would
do the most valuable work in prosecuting the
war. While in Cuba and later in the Philip-
pines he had much and valuable experience in
the quartermaster's department as to make him
valuable to the government. He passed the
physical requirements for this branch of the
service and was commissioned captain of the
quartermaster's corps being detailed as assist-
ant to the general superintendent United States
Army Transport Service for the Port of New
York. February 14. 1918. As one of the
prominent and patriotic men of Nebraska and
the Panhandle it is but just to the citizens of
this section that they should know what an
important part his service has played and in a
history of the Panhandle the work of a man
of this section should be told. For this reason
we give a brief resume. There has been so
much waste — wanton waste and extrava-
gance — in many departments of the army since
war was declared that it should be known that
one department at least has not only been
paying its own way, but which, up to date, has
earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for
the administration's coffers. The thrifty group
of workers who have accomplished this are
a group of governmental workers — mostly of-
ficers — in the army machine, a department
that has received scant credit for the tremen-
dous work they have done because of waste-
fulness during the war. It is the labor em-
ployment branch of the amiy, and when the
record of its service is written, though it may
be garnished with silver chevrons, denoting ex-
clusively at home service — the public will be
proud to acclaim it. Captain Cox is in charge
of the bureau and under him in charge of a
special department is Captain Petite. No bet-
ter summing up of his work can be made than
that of a New York newspaper which we take
the privilege of quoting. "The amount of
money can not be figured to the dollar — but it
is certain that it has totaled nearly $1,000,000
in the employment department alone. — All this
money is saved by the insurance and compensa-
tion department, under the direction of Captain
Petite, a veteran officer who has proved himself
adept in his new calling as he was in the
numerous campaigns in which he participated.
Captain Cox supervises the establishment,
which has three floors in the Dey Street Build-
ing — 54 Dey Street. — One hudnred per cent
efficient himself, he has with him a staff as
capable." Captain Petite is still in the service
at the office in New York, while his wife has
remained at Scottsbluff looking after their
property. She is much better equipped for
this work than the ordinary woman as she was
reared on a pioneer Nebraska homestead where
by circumstances she was forced to grow up
self-reliant, to be quick of thought and action.
She attended a "soddy" school house while her
parent lived on the ranch before coming to take
advantage of the educational facilities of the
town of Scottsbluff and had early learned of
avenues in which to direct her energies as well
as resourcefulness and thrift. Even before her
marriage she displayed unusual business abili-
ties for she became a successful dealer in
horses, having learned their qualities and value
on the home farm, and by this business made
enough capital to build a fine ten-room house,
which she conducted as an European hotel.
Since Captain Petite has been in the army she
has had charge of their joint interests and
during the past year has managed them so
well that she is now operating three large
apartment houses in the same manner, always
having a waiting list of tenants. Her entire
family is well known in county and both she
and the captain hold an estimable place in the
community where they are regarded as two of
the most patriotic, substantial and progressive
citizens as they support most liberally all move-
ments for the civic and communal welfare.
PETER O'SHEA, who has the reputation
of having developed a larger acreage of land
than any other man in Scottsbluff county, has
been engaged in the real estate business with
offices at Scottsbluff", since 1907, but his many
interests have made his name well-known
through the valley. Mr. O'Shea was born in
Pike county, Missouri, January 23, 1864, the
son of Patrick and Anna (Nolan) O'Shea,
notable names in Ireland, where the father
was born on the shores of Lake Killarney,
and the mother in County Tipperary. They
came to the United States in 1847, in one of
the old slow-moving sailing vessels, but were
landed safely in New Orleans, Louisiana.
From there they came up the great Mississippi
as far as St. Louis, where the father secured
work with a construction company building
levees on the river, remaining in St. Louis for
seven years. Afterward Mr. O'Shea worked
at Clarksville, Missouri, and from there on
down into Louisiana. In 1874 the family
came by wagon to Madison county, Nebraska,
where the father bought land in the hope of
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
39
comfortably rearing his family of nine chil-
dren. During the early years in Madison
county the struggle was hard and the first
crops were devoured by the grasshoppers.
Better times came, however, and at the time
of his death, he left an estate worth $60,000.
Both he and wife died on the Madison coun-
ty homestead, his life being prolonged to nine-
ty-three years. He was a man of strong po-
litical as well as religious convictions, being
identified with the Democratic party, and
faithful to every observance of the Catholic
church. Of his surviving children, Peter is
the fourth in order of birth, the others being:
Thomas, in the banking business at Madison,
Nebraska ; Edward, identified with the Home
Savings Bank at Madison; Ella, who resides
with her brother Edward at Madison ; and
John J., of Newman Grove, Nebraska, re-
tired banker and real estate man.
Peter O'Shea was ten years old when his
parents located in Madison county and there
he received his schooling. In that section and
at that time, no one took any particular pains
to interest and amuse youths that were strong
and sturdy, but no doubt Peter, with lads of
his acquaintance did not work on the farm all
the time even under the strictest discipline,
but found occasional means of recreation.
Work, however, was the order of the day, and
while yet young Peter started to labor as a
miner and continued in that line for six years.
Afterwards, for seven years he was in a grain
business at Humphreys, Nebraska, and from
there, in 1907, came to Scottsblufif. Here he
embarked in the real estate business, also in-
vested in a ranch and went into the cattle
business, and in all his udertakings has done
remarkably well. He possesses what is called
business foresight and this natural faculty has
ruled his judgment in his large land invest-
ments. At one time he bought 1,700 acres of
land and has developed everv acre of it.
In 1900 Mr. O'Shea married Miss Matilda
Fricke, who was bom and reared in Nebraska ;
and they have three children: Helen, John
and Frank, the two younger being yet in
school. Mr. O'Shea and his family are mem-
bers of the Roman Catholic church. Inimersed
in his business, Mr. O'Shea entertains no de-
sire for public office, but he is too enterpris-
ing a citizen not to recognize the value of po-
litical convictions and heartily supports the
Democratic party.
THEODORE D. DEUTSCH, has been
practically identified with all the great irriga-
tion projects that have been of so much import-
ance to the people of Scottsblufif and adja-
cent counties. He began to build ditches in
1891 for the Tri-State Company, and contin-
ued until 1909, although, prior to coming to
Scottsbluff county, in 1886, he had been in-
terested in different sections of the countrs'
along similar lines in connection with railroad-
ing. Mr. Deutsch is widely known for his
enterprise, his public usefulness and his exten-
sive ownership of valuable lands.
Theodore. D. Deutsch was born February
28, 1861, in Richland county, Wisconsin, the
son of Daniel and Catherine (Lewis) Deutsch,
the former born in Manheim, Germany, Feb-
ruary 28, 1821, and died in 1896. Both came
to the United States with their parents who
settled first in Ohio and then moved to Wis-
consin, where the grandparents died. Daniel
Deutsch was a cooper by trade. In Wisconsin
he was employed for some years by the gov-
ernment, to operate boats used in clearing the
channels of Wisconsin rivers. In religious
faith he belonged to the IMennonite sect, while
his wife was a member of the Catholic church.
In 1872 they moved to Iowa, where he bought
land and both died there. Of the five children
three are living: Theodore D., whose home is
at Scottsbluft"; Anna, the wife of Eli Swihart.
of West Newton, Iowa; and Albert, who
lives on the old home place in Iowa.
Theodore D. Deutsch obtained his education
in Iowa and remained a farmer until he was
about twenty years old. In 1§80 he began to
work at railroad construction and helped build
the grade for the old Diagonal road from \\'at-
erloo to Des Moines. In 1884 he went to
Washington and remained on the Pacific coast
for two years, engaged in teaming at Walla
Walla for several months. From there he
went to Yakima and built grade on the North-
ern Pacific road, and when that job was finish-
returned to Iowa. Finding no business open-
ing to please him in the old neighborhood, he
remained only one month, before locating at
Elk Point, South Dakota, where he went into
the cattle feeding business. In the meanwhile
he homesteaded in Banner county, Nebraska,
having the honor of naming that county, but
later sold his homestead there for $1 per acre.
In March. 1886, he came to what is now
Scottsbluft" county, Cheyenne at that time, and
was one of the county commissioners when
Scottsbluft' county was organized. From the
40
HISTORY OE WESTERN NEBRASKA
beginning of the plans for the building of the
great irrigation ditches to their completion,
Mr. Deutsch was active in the work. He has
been identified with all the ditch building in
this section and additionally built five miles
of the grade for the Burlington railroad. Mr.
Deutsch has been engaged in the real estate
business since 1909, has a large loan business
to which he gives close attention, and not only
owns valuable city realty but has eight hun-
dred acres of fine irrigated land in the valley.
In 1888 Mr. Deutsch married Miss Laura
Ammerman, who was bom in Pennsylvania,
and they have two daughters : Blanche, the
wife of Joseph Kottall, who died April 21,
1919 ; aod Edna, who resides with her parents.
Mrs. Deutsch and Mis Emma are members
of the Christian church. In politics Mr.
Deutsch is a Democrat. He was one of the
first county commissioners of Scottsblufif and
continued in that office for thirteen years. He
is one of the older members of the Masonic
fraternity at Scittsblufif, and belongs also to
the Modern Woodmen.
Without a sense of humor, the trials and
tribulations of the pioneers might often have
weighed heavier than was the fact. Few of
them in recalling events now passed fail to re-
member amusing occurence that are worth
the telling and none are more appreciative of
a joke, even upon themselves. This is the
case with Mr. Deutsch when he refers to
early hardships, when even getting married
entailed considerable thought and inconveni-
ence no was to be contrasted with the easy
>nethods of the present. After receiving the
consent of the lady he wished to wed, he
started of on a hundred and fifty mile horse-
back ride to secure the license, and on the way
home stopped at a town emporium and in-
vested in tow white shirts, unusual posses-
sions, from which he promised himself much
satisfaction. He had yet another horseback
ride to take, one of a hundred miles, to secure
a preacher. When the latted arrived, in order
to do the occasion honor, Mr. Deutsch lent one
of his precious shirts to the minister for the
ceremony, who was held in a dugout. Possibly,
Mr. Deutsch reminisces, the latter thought the
shirt a gift as he never saw it again.
HARRY S. FIESBACH, president of one
of the largest mercantile firms of ScittsbkitT,
has been actively identified with the busi-
ness for the past ten years. He is a man of
marked business ability and his large enter-
prise is conducted along the lines of personal
and public service that in any undertaking will
assure worth while success. Mr. Fliesbach is
a ative of Nebraska, and was born at Seward,
January, 28, 1884, the son of Otto and Nina
Louise (Senter) Fliesbach, both of whom have
passed away. The father was born in Illinois
and died in Scottsblufif, in 1916, while Mrs.
Fliesbach was born at Nashua, New Hamp-
shire, and died at Scottsblufif, April 11, 1919.
Of their five children, Harry S. is the eldest,
the others being: Chester, the secretary and
treasure of the above mentioned mercantile
business ; Glenn, a merchant in Montana ;
Amelia R., the wife of Ralph W. Smith, a
mining engineer at Denver, but now associated
with the firm at Scottsbluff ; and Laura G.,
the wife of G. L. Howey, residing at Dallas,
Texas, twenty yeats Otto Fliesbach carried
on a mercantile business at Imperial, Nebras-
ka. In 1909 he sold out and the family moved
to Denver, residing there until the early part
of 1916, when Mr. Fliesbach came to Scotts-
bluff, where he had business investments. His
death occurred shortly afterward. He was a
man of impeachable character, and a member
of the Christian Science church.
Harry S. Fliesbach's mother was widely
known, not only as a Christian Science prac-
titioner, but as an inspiring personality. She
was affectionately known as "Mother" and at
the time of her passing a local newspaper
wrote of her as follows: "Mrs. Fliesbach was
best known to all as 'Mother' and that is one
of the best tributes that can ever be paid to
her, for she represented all the pure, loving,
unselfish and exalted thoughts that 'Mother'
brings to mind, not nly to her family, but to
many others whom she helped. She became
interested in the Christian Science movement
about thirty years ago, and for some years
has given practically her whole attention to
it. She was a practitioner and also First
Reader of the Christian Science Society of
Scottsbluff." She was a daughter of Addison
and Roxana (Cutler) Senter, and spent her
childhood in New Hampshire. When about
fourteen years old she came to Omaha, Ne-
braska, to attend school, several years later
becoming a teacher at Osceola, Nebraska,
where she met and was subsequently married
to Otto Fliesbach. After his death she made
short visits to her children, then went to Cali-
fornia and still later visited Boston, and after
her return to Scottsbluff in the early part of
1919, began to make preparation for a perma-
nent home in this city where she was so sin-
cerely admired adn so much beloved.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
41
Harry S. Fliesbach was educated in the pub-
lic schools at Imperial and a business college
at Lincoln. He obtained his early business
training in his father's store and afterward
was in the wholesale line for ten years at St.
Louis, Missouri. In 1909 he stablished a de-
partment store in Scottsbluff, in partnership
with his brother Chester. At first they made
dry goods the main feature, but subsequently
added one department after another until their
stock now covers all the commodities usually
found in modem establishments of this kind.
The business was incorporated for $100,000,
the two owners being the officials and manag-
ers. They are honorable, upright, conscienti-
ous business men, who have the confidence
and esteem of every one.
In 1916, Harry S. Fliesbach was united in
marriage to Miss Grace B. Weybright, who
was born in Nebraska. They are members of
the Christian Science church. In politics Mr.
Fliesbach is a Democrat, as was his father,
but he is inclined to be somewhat independent.
ANDREW T. CRAWFORD, proprietor
of the A. T. Crawford Garage, is one of the
old established business men of Scottsblufif.
He stands high in public esteem both as an
upright, honest man of affairs and as an ac-
tive, useful, dependable citizen. He is a native
of Nebraska, born at Omaha. March 31, 1885,
the son of Dr. Andrew and Anna (Hall)
Crawford, the former of whom was born in
County Donegal, Ireland, and the latter in
Canada. Dr. Crawford is widely known in
this state and is a graduate of the old Omaha
Medical College. He has been one of the
leading members of his profession at Scotts-
bluff since he came here in 1902. He is a
member of the Scottsbluff" Medical associa-
tion and of the Theosophical society, and has
been president of that able body, the Scotts-
bluff County Medical society. A review of Dr.
Crawford will be found on another page of
this history.
Andrew T. Crawford attended school at
Omaha and then started to learn the harness-
making trade, but not being sufficiently in-
terested in that line, gave it up and went to
Colorado, where he worked as a cowboy for
seven years. Mr. Crawford returned to Ne-
braska, and in 1911 established the Central
Garage at Scottsbluff, an early venture here
in this business, later he changed the name to
the A. T. Crawford Garage. He bought a
lot of ground favorably situated and had a
suitable building erected, but later bought the
commodious building in which he is now es-
tablished, to which however, he has since
been obliged to make two additions to accom-
modate the expansion of his business. He
has more than 16,000 feet of ground space.
He handles the Hudson and Essex cars and
sells all through the Platte Valley and in
South Dakota and Wyommg. The business
belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Crawford and to-
gether they have made every dollar that is
invested. This is the oldest firm in Scottsbluff
to be actively engaged in their line of busi-
ness, and with the exception of a period of
ten months, Mr. Crawford has had no other
partner than his wife.
In 1907 Mr. Crawford married Miss
Blanche Pearl Jones, who was born at Wahoo,
Nebraska. Her parents were John J. and
Diana (Mattison) Jones, the former born in
Wales and the latter in Wisconsin. They
came to Nebraska in 1885, where the father
engaged in farming and stockraising. Mrs.
Crawford is the only survivor of their family
of three children. She is a member of the
Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Craw-
ford is a staunch supporter of the principles
of the Republican party. He belongs to the
order of Modern Woodmen and to the Elks,
being identified with lodge No. 961 at Scotts-
bluff.
ANDREW CRAWFORD, M. D., one
of the leading members of the medical fra-
ternity of Scottsbluff, where he is loved by
the people and honored by the profession,
came to Nebraska in 1883 and in 1902 to this
city. During the World War. now happily
ended, he was a member of the volunteer med-
ical reserve board, and on other occasions he
has freely placed his professional skill at
the service of the public without thought of
remuneration.
Dr. Crawford was born in County Donegal,
Ireland, April 19, 1851, as son of William and
Margaret (Crawford) Crawford, both natives
of the Emerald Isle, honest, worthy, working
people. The mother was a member of the
Episcopal church. The father was a thought-
ful, reasoning man, and voted with the Con-
servative party in Canada. In Ireland he was
a farmer, but after emigrating to Canada in
1852, found it more profitable to work as a
laborer. In 1854 his family joined him in
Canada and that remained the family home.
Dr. Crawford has one sister, Ellen, the wife
of William Barlow, a railroad engineer in
the Dominion.
Andrew Crawford attended the common
schools in Canada. After finishing the elemen-
42
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
tary schools he studied medicine but did not
complete his medical course until after com-
ing to Nebraska. Soon after locating in this
commonwealth he matriculated at the Medical
School of the State University at Omaha,
then known as the Omaha Medical College,
graduating with the class of 1888. From 1888
to 1900 he was engaged in the practice of his
profession in the city of Omaha, then moved
to Harrisburg, Nebraska in August of the lat-
ter vear and from there came to Scottsbluflf on
January 29. 1902.
In 1874 Dr. Crawford married at Mamilton,
Canada, Miss Anna Hall, who was bom
in Canada, and they have four children : Anna
Grace, the wife of Charles Hamer, of Scotts-
blulif; Mrs. Helen R. Eastman, who lives at
Scottsbluff ; Mary, the wife of L. M. Kinney,
of this city, and Andrew T., in the automobile
business at ScottsblufY. Dr. Crawford has
been president of the Scottsblufif County Med-
ical society; is a member of the Scottsblufif
Medical association, and of the Theosophical
society, and belongs to the fraternal order of
Modern Woodmen.
CHESTER FLIESBACH, a promiennt
business man of Scottsbluflf, has been identi-
fied with merchandising ever since he left
college. He is secretary and treasurer of the
mercantile firm operating the largest depart-
ment store in this city, a business that is cap-
italized at $100,000. '
Chester Fliesbach was born at Imperial, Ne-
braska, May 3, 1888. His parents were Otto
and Nina Louise (Senter) Fliesbach, people
widely and favorably known in this state for
many' years. His father was born in Illinois
and his mother in New Hampshire. Both
died at Scottsbluff, the father in 1916 and the
mother in 1919. They had six children and
Chester is the second of the five survivors, the
others being: Harry S., who is president of
of the mercantile firm referred to above;
Glenn, a merchant in Montana. Amelia R.,
the wife of Halph W. Smith, a mining engi-
neer, but now associated with the firm at
Scottsbllt; and Laura G., the wife of L. G.
Howey, who is in the banking business near
Dallas, Texas. For twenty years the father of
the above family was in the mercantile busi-
ness at Imperial, Nebraska. After disposing
of his interests there, in 1909 he moved to Den-
ver, and early in 1916 came from there to
Scottsbluff. Both parents were members of
the Christian Science church, in which the
mother had been prominent for many years.
She was a successful practitioner and at the
time of her deeply lamented death, was First
Reader in the church at Scottsbluff.
Following his graduation in 1902 from the
high school of Imperial, Nebraska, Chester
Fliesbach took a course in the Gem City Busi-
.ness College, at Quincy, Illinois. He the en-
tered his father's store at Imperial, where he
had invaluable business training and remained
until 1909, then came to Scottsbluff and in
association with his brother Harry S. Flies-
bach, organized the department store which
has been expanded until it is one of the larg-
est in Scottsbluff county.
In 1912 Chester Fliesbach married Miss
Rhea Matheny, who was born at Carthage, Il-
linois, and they have two children : Gordon,
who is six years old ; and Chester, aged fifteen
months. Mr. and Mrs. Fliesbach are members
of the Christian Science society. Politically
he casts an independent vote.
JAMES C. McCREARY, on of the promi-
nent men in numerous business enterprises at
Scottsbluff" as well as other points, was bom
in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and was brought
to Nebraska by his parents in boyhood. He
grew up on his father's farm in Buffalo coun-
ty and obtained his education in the country
schools and at Shelton.
When nineteen years old, Mr. McCreary
went to work for M. A. Hostetter, with whom
he remained for seven years and after that
engaged in a general mercantile business with
F. A. McCreary and E. T. Peck. For two
years before coming to Scottsbluff", in 1901,
when he embarked in business with F. A. Mc-
Creary, though he still lived on a farm, never
having lost his interest in agricultural pur-
suits and surroundings, but since then has
devoted himself rather closely to the enter-
prises in which he has made large investments.
He is secretary of the Scottsbluff Investment
Company, is president of the McCreary Broth-
ers Company, is president of the Scottsbluff
Creamery Company, and owns an interest in
a store at Morrill, Nebraska, with unusual
business acumen being able to direct all these
undertakings profitablv.
In 1896 "Mr. McCreary married :\Iiss Belle
Bently, who was born in the state of New
York'and died at Scottsbluff, January 19, 1915,
having been the mother of five sons : Victor,
who died March 10, 1918, aged twenty-one
years and one day; Pearson, born November
16, 1899; Harold J., born in December. 1900;
J. Curtis, born in May. 1909; and Willis H.,
born in January. 1911. Mr. ]\lcCreary's sec-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
43
ond marriage took place on March 9, 1916, to
Miss Jane B. Polk, a native of Kentucky, a
highly cultured woman who has all the graci-
ous hospitality and charm of the daughters
of the Blue Grass State. They are members
of the Methodist Episcopal church. In poli-
tics he is a Republican of no uncertain stamp,
and fraternally is a Mason and a Shriner.
JONAS ZOELLNER, one of the represen-
tative business men of ScottsblulT. to which
city he came in 1905, has built up a large and
dependable mercantile establishment which is
a leading business house of the upper valley.
He was born in Germany, July 6, 1851, one of
seven children born to Ephraim and Fred-
ericka (Kaufman) Zoellner. Both parents
died in Germany, where the father was a mer-
chant ailor. Jonas is one of the two children
to come to America, a brother, Charles Zoell-
ner, being a merchant at Deadwood, South
Dakota.
Jonas Zoellner was twenty years old when
he left his native land for the United States,
reaching these hospitable shores in February,
1871, a stranger. His objective point was
Memphis, Tennessee, where he was employed
by one of his countrymen as a clerk in a large
store, and he remained there from 1871 until
1877. Then he went to Deadwood, South Da-
kota, where he was associated in a mercantile
business with his brother for thirty-nine years.
It has been Mr. Zoellner's policy to expand his
business interests where he has seen opportun-
ity, hence, in 1905 he came to Scottsbluff and
here opened a mercantile house under the
name of Zoellner Brothers. In 1908 he bought
his brother's interest and admitted his only
son, Charles, to partnership, and since then
the firm name has been Zoellner & Son.
In 1882 Mr. Coellner was united in marriage
with Miss Anna Goldbloom, who was born at
Indianapolis, Indiana, and they have one son,
Charles. This young man was educated at
Deadwood, South Dakota, and at Highland
Park, Illinois, later taking a business course
in the Bryant & Stratton Commercial college.
Chicago. He entered upon his business career
as a traveling representative of a wholesale
house of St. Joseph. Missouri, continuing wit
house at St. Joseph. Missouri, continuing with
the same firm for seven years, since severing
his connection with that firm he has been asso-
ciated with his father. In addition to the
ScottsblutT establishment, the Zoellners own
and conduct a large, up-to-date store at Ger-
ing, in both cities handling shoes, clothing and
men's funiisshings. Charles Zoellner, the
younger member of the firm, married Miss
\Iamie O'Connor, who was born at Wisner,
Nebraska, and they have one daughter. Doro-
thea.
In politics both father and son are Republi-
cans. Both have been too actively engaged
in business to feel able to give attention to
public ottice to any extent, although Jonas
Zoellner did serve for six years as treasurer
of Spearfish, South Dakota. He is of Jewish
extraction and faith and belongs to the He-
brew congregation at ScottsblulT. The high
regard in which both he and son are held in
this city and elsewhere is indicated in their
Masonic connections and both are Shriners,
are member of the Modern Woodmen and of
the Elks. They belong to many benevolent
organizations and in all charitable movement
are among the foremost to contribute and
also support all worthy movements of the com-
munitq.
JEROME H. SMITH, on the leading real
estate men of the younger generation, who has
built up a gratifying business, largely handled
in Scottsblufif county, belongs to a well known
pioneer family of Hamilton county, Nebraska,
the member of which have had much to do
with the development of the state. Mr. Smith
was born at Aurora, Nebraska, October 17,
1888. He received his early academic train-
ing in Arizona and graduated from the high
school before entering the University of Ne-
braska, where he completed his course in 1911.
Soon after leaving college he accepted a posi-
tion with the Lincoln Traction Company, Lin-
Coln, Nebraska, of which concern he became
cashier. Afterward he went to Washington
and subsequently became advertising man for
N. K. Fairbank, with Washington and Oregon
as his territory. In 1918 Mr. Smith came to
Scottsblufif and embarked independently in the
real estate business, which he continued again
after an interruption tliat began with his enter-
ing military service in July, 1918, and ended
in December of the same year. He was attach-
ed to the signal corps and was in the special
training camp at College Station, Texas.
In March, 1915, Mr. Smith was united in
marriage to Miss Lenora Frances Stadler, who
was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana. They are
members of the Episcopal church. While he
is deeply interested in public affairs as all good
citizens must be, Mr. Smith declines political
party affiliation and when he casts his vote it
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
is according to the dictates of his own good
judgement.
JESSE B. LANE, postmaster of Scottsbluff
and a leader in Democratic political circles in
this section of Nebraska, formerly was en-
gaged in the real estate business here and owns
a large amount of valuable realty. He has
been a resident .of Nebraska for a number of
years, but his birth took place at Lancaster,
Ohio. December 22, 1854.
Mr. Lane's parents were Jesse D. and Ma-
tilda (Loofborough) Lane, both natives of
Ohio, and both of English extraction. The
grandfathers, John Lane and William Loof-
borough, were born in Pennsylvania, and their
parents were born in England. Mr. and Mrs.
Jesse Lane were reared in Ohio and married
there but later moved to Illinois, where the
father became a very successful farmer. Both
died in that state and six of their children are
yet living, Jesse B. being the only one to come
to Nebraska.
Jesse B. Lane attended school both in Ohio
and Illinois, and after his education was fin-
ished remafned on the home farm until his
marriage when he moved to Herrick, Illinois,
where he conducted a hardware business and
for three years served as postmaster. Mr.
Lane established a general mercantile busienss
in Edgar county, Illinois, in partnership with
his brother, L. F. Lane, an association which
continued for a year. In 1888 he came to
Nebraska, and after settling in Gumming coun-
ty engaged in handling real estate for a num-
ber of years and continued in that line after
coming to Scottsblufif in the fall of 1905, carry-
ing it on very successfully until 1915, when he
assumed the duties of postmaster. His man-
agement of the office here has been very sat-
isfactory, notwithstanding a great increase in
office business since he took charge.
In 1879 Mr. Lane married Miss Martha
Strohl, who was born in Ohio. They have had
nine children, of whom the following are liv-
ing: Mrs. George Elquist, who lives on a
ranch near Torrington, Wyoming; J. Ray, in
the real estate business at Scottsbluff'; Mable,
a bookkeeper and cashier for a large business
firm at Scottsbluff; Guy, associated with his
brother in the real estate business ; and Mil-
dred, a bookkeeper for the firm of McCreary
Brothers. The family belongs to the Pres-
byterian church. Mr. Lane is a member of the
Fraternal Union and the Modern Woodmen.
SILAS G. ALLEN, M. D., one of the able
and experienced medical men engaged in the
practice of their profession at Scottsbluff, for
any years has also been interested in farm
production and now owns over seven hundred
acres of fine irrigated land in Scottsbluff coun-
ty. Dr. Allen was bom in Shelby county,
Iowa, April 6, 1874, the son of Daniel and
Mary (Bothwell) Allen, the former was born
in the state of New York and the latter in
Jones county, Iowa. Their marriage took
place in Illinois and from there they moved to
Iowa early in the seventies. In earlier years
the father was an engineer but later in life
was a farmer in Iowa where he died in 1901.
He was a Republican in politics and was an
advanced Mason and a Shriner. Dr. Allen's
mother resides at Harlan, Iowa, and is a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopaf church. Of the
seven children of the family Dr. Allen was
the second born, the others being as follows :
Cora, the wife of Herbert Wilcox, a farmer
near Tilden, Nebraska ; George, a specialist
in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat,
in practice at Topeka, Kansas ; Sadie, the wife
of Thomas J. Newby, county treasurer, re-
siding at Harlan, Iowa ; Daisie, who lives with
her mother at Harlan ; Mamie, who lives in
California; and Cleo, the wife of Dr. E. F.
Zoerb, a physician and surgeon at Genoa, Ne-
braska.
Silas G. Allen attended the public schools
in Shelby county, Iowa and the Woodbine
normal school. For some time after complet-
ing his education he engaged in teaching
school, in the meanwhile preparing for a medi-
cal career, and in 1901 was graduated from
the Nebraska State Medical college, at Omaha,
at which time he had the honor of being
class president. He remained at Omaha for
one year as physician in the Methodist Episco-
pal Hospital, then settled at Clarkson, where
he continued in successful practice for seven-
teen years. He owned land in that locality
which he sold before coming to Scottsbluff
in 1918. Since coming to the Panhandle
the Doctor has invested heavily in irrigated
land in this district, and now owns three
farms.
In 1904 Dr. Allen married Miss Louise
Beran, a native daughter of Nebraska, and
they have one daughter, Viola, who is in
school. In politics Dr. Allen was reared in
the Republican party and still adheres to its
principles of patriotism and Americanism.
While living at Clarkson he served on the
Ruben Thomas Hei
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
45
town board and as county coroner. He is a
Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner.
CHARLES C. McELROY. whose able man-
agement of his several interests places him
with the successful business and professional
men of Scottsbluff, was bom in South Dakota,
December 26. 1886, the only child of Charles
and Mattie (Arbuckle) McElroy.
The McElroy family is of Irish extraction
but has been American for generations. The
grandfather of Charles McElroy, John P. Mc-
Elroy, was born in the state of New York,
moving later to Illinois, and still later to
South Dakota. The father of Mr. McElroy
was a rancher and farmer in South Dakota
and died at Rapid City in 1892. The mother
was born and reared in Iowa, receiving her
education in O'Brien county. She now lives
at Lincoln. Nebraska, where she is an active
member of the Congregational church.
Charles C. McElroy attended school at Rap-
id City and in 1902 completed his high school
course at Wisner, Nebraska, after which he
spent one year in a business college at Omaha.
In 1908 he completed his law course in the
LTniversity of Nebraska, and after eighteen
months of practice at Lincoln, came to Scotts-
blufT in March. 1910. Here he has not only
won a definite place at the bar but has broad-
ened his interests and does a large business in
insurance and loans. He is also the represen-
tative of the R. G. Dun agency in the Platte
Valley. He has been very active in Masonry
and has received the Thirty-second degree, be-
longing to the consistory at Lincoln, and he
attended the dedication of the Masonic Temple
in that city. In politics he is affiliated with
the Democratic party.
WILLIAM REEVES was actively associ-
ated with his father in railroad contract work
in Nebraska during the period of his early
youth, and thus gained at tirst hand a definite
familiarity with "the conditions that prevailed
in centrafand western Nebraska in the pioneer
days. With his father he came to Cheyenne
countv before Scottsbluff county was segre-
gated'therefrom, and both took up and perfect-
ed title to land about five miles southeast of
where Scottsbluff is now located. The subject
of this sketch eventi;:illy became the owner of
both of the-^e tracts and' he improved the same
into one of the valuable farm estates of the
county. This property he still owns and to its
management he continued to give his active at-
tention until 1918. when he rented the farm
and removed with his family to Scottsbluff'.
where he purchased the attractive residence m
which the familv now makes its home and
where the children are afforded the advantages
of the excellent public schools. Mr. Reeves
has been closely identified with progressive
movements that have conserved the civic and
industrial advancement of Scottsbluff county,
and is a citizen who has a secure place in pop-
ular confidence and good will. His father was
one of the builders of the Winter creek irriga-
tion ditch and served as the first president of
the company that constructed the same, while
the son William was a director for thirteen
years, as the owner of eighteen shares of the
stock. In politics he gives his allegiance to the
Democratic party and he and his wife hold to
the faith of the Christian church.
\\'illiani Rtcxes was born in Mercer county,
Missunn, Au,-n>t 28, 1861, and is a son of
Ruben Tlinnias Reeves, who was born in Chris-
tian county, Kentucky, March 10, 1826. and
who was about eighty-one years of age at the
time of his death. His wife was born in Ohio.
She died in Illinois. Their marriage was sol-
emnized in Missouri. William Reeves has
gained his education almost entirely in the
school of practical experience and through self-
discipline, as he early became associated with
his father in railroad construction work in re-
mote localities and was thus denied the cus-
tomary school privileges. He was but ten
years old when he thus began work with his
father, who was engaged in 1875 in construc-
tion work on the levee along the Mississippi
river from Hannibal to Hamburg Bay, later
taking a contract for the building of one mile
of the roadbed of the Union Pacific railroad
near Callaway, Custer county, Nebraska,
where he utilized in this work an average of
about twenty-five teams. Later he constructed
under contract two miles for the Burlington &
Missouri River railroad, near Central City, and
in both of these enterprises his son gave valu-
able cooperation. It was in 1886 that the
father and son came to what is now Scottsbluff
county and entered claim to the land which is
now owned by the latter. In the intervening
years William Ree\e> h;is stood exponent of
the most progressixe citi/eiiship, the while he
has worked for and won distinctive prosperity.
In 1898 Mr. Reeves wediled Miss Susan V.
Lacey, who was born in Texas, in July, 1874.
They have two children, both of whom were
born in the primitive sod house which still
stands on the old home farm in Scottsbluff
county. Shelley was born January 22, 1900,
and Nellie July 18, 1906, both now being stu-
dents in the public schools of Scottsbluff.
J. RAY LANE, who has been established in
the real setate business at Scottsbluff' since
1908, has been the means of bringing a large
46
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
amount of capital to the Platte Valley, own-
ing a large acreage of valuable land and hav-
ing control of vast properties on the commis-
sion basis. Mr. Lane has become as favorably
known in the business as he farmerly was in
the educational field. He was born at Her-
rick, in Shelby county, Illinois, June 1, 1884.
The parents of Mr. Lane were Jesse B.
and Martha (Strohl) Lane, both of whom
were born in Ohio and when young accom-
panied their parents to Illinois. For three
years the father was postmaster of Herrick,
Illinois, an office he has filled at Scottsblufif
since 1915. In 1888 Mr. Lane's parents came
to Nebraska and settled in Cuming county
where the father engaged in the real estate
business until 1905. when he moved to
Scottsblufif, where he continued his former
activities until he was appointed postmaster.
Of his nine children J. Ray is the second of
the five survivors.
In 1902 Mr. Lane was graduated from the
Wisner high school, and in 1904 from the Ne-
braska Normal college at Wayne, with the B.
C. degree, being president of his class. During
the three following years he taught school,
for one year in the country near W'ayne, for
one year being principal of the schools of
Wolbach, in Greeley county, and one year
superintendent of schools at Franklin. He
then joined his father at Scottsblufif and is now
associated with his brother Guy in the same
business.
In 1915 Mr. Lane was united in marriage to
Miss Dora J. Carter, a musician of note, who
is a graduate of the New England Conserva-
tory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts, and
prior to the World War, was a student in
Germany for two years. Mr. and Mrs. Lane
have no children. In his political views he is
a Democrat like his father and grandfather.
He is active in Masoinc circles and was secre-
tary of the first Masonic lodge installed at
Scottsblufif He is a member of the Episcopal
church.
GUY LANE, whose aggressive yet well
planned business activities have given him high
standing in commercial circles, is identified
with a brother in the real estate line at Scotts-
blufif. Mr. Lane was born at Wisner, Cuming
county, Nebraska, March 28, 1889. The fam-
ily history appears in this work as it is an old
and important one in the state.
Guy Lane enjoyed educational advantages at
Wisner, and after completing the high school
course, went itno the telephone business, and
during the following eight years he gained so
broad a knowledge of electricity, that he might
qualify for a number of positions where such
knowledge is indispensable. In the meanwhile,
however, the family moved to Scottsblufif and
he joined them here, had some experience in
the real estate line with his father, then be-
came associated with his brother as the firm
of Lane Brothers, and the partners carry on
an extensive business, to the . extension of
which Mr. Lane gives close attention.
In 1908 Mr. Lane was united in marriage
to Miss Ann Konkle, and they have two chil-
dren, namely : Helen Louise and Audrey Lee.
As an intelligent, upstanding, expectant citi-
zen, with ambition to not only forward his
own fortunes but to also advance the best
interests of county and state, Mr. Lane takes
a hearty interest in politics and proves the
sincerity of his convictions when he gives sup-
port to the Democratic party.
CLYDE N. MOORE, M. D., president of
the Scottsblufif County Medical society, is a
leading member of his profession at Scotts-
blufif, where he has built up a large practice
and become thoroughly identified with the best
interests of this section. Dr. Moore was born
at Macomb, in McDonough county, Illinois,
March 13, 1882, the son of H. N. and Anna
( Cooper) Moore, the former born in Ihio and
the latter in McDonough county, Illinois. They
had two sons born to them : Roscoe P., who is
manager of the Ogallala Lumber Company, at
Ogallala, Nebraska; and Clyde N., who was
an infant when his parents came to Nebraska.
It was in 1882 that they left their cultivated
land in Illinois and came to a sparsely settled
section of Seward county, where the father
invested in school land for which he paid $7
an acre. He became wealthy as a farmer and
stock feeder and remained on his homestead
in Seward county until the close of his life,
his death occuring in August, 1908. Dr.
Moore's mother survives and resides at Scotts-
blufif. She is a member of the Presbyterian
church and is interested in numerous benevo-
lent enterprises.
Clyde N. Moore completed his high school
course at Seward in 1900, but before taking
up a scientific cause, devoted some time to
the study of human nature by spending a
short period on a ranch near Bufifalo, Wyom-
ing, and conducting a hotel. In the meanwhile
he had done enough preparatory medical read-
ing to enable him to enter Lincoln Medical
college, in 1907, graduating in 1911 with the
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
47
degree of M. D., and immediately entered into
practice at Gering, where he continued one
and a half years before coming to Scottsbluff.
Dr. Moore is engaged in medical and surgical
practice, meeting with the success that not
only is a source of gratification to every con-
scientious medical man, but that has proved
his worth to his fellow citizens. He is active
in all the leading medical organizations, is
president of the county society, is a member
of the Nebraska State Medical association, of
the American Medical association and belongs
also to the Volunteer Medical Service Corps
of the United States. Dr. Moore's personal
standing is as high as is his professional. He
has long been identified with the Masonic fra-
ternity and still retains membership in his col-
lege Greek letter society. Dr. Moore owns two
valuable farms but his practice demands too
much of his time and attention to permit his
being much of a practical agriculturist.
On October 11, 1911, Dr. Moore married
Miss Udoris M. Wilmeth, a native of Salem,
Iowa. She had a liberal education there and
later took advanced courses in other schools.
Dr. and Mrs. Moore have one son, bearing
his father's name, who was born May 9, 1917.
In politics Dr. Moore follows the example set
by his venerated father and gives support
to the principles of the Republican party and
upholds its vinlication of true Americanism.
HORACE E. BROWN. — It is surprising
how many interesting stories come to light
when real lovers of Nebraska get together and
exchange reminiscences, and could the readers
of the history of the Panhandle have these
stories at first hand, few would ever afterward
relish more romances of courage, endurance,
persistency, of neighborhood brotherliness or
exemplification of sincere Christianity. Ques-
tion where you will, among the stable, repre-
sentative people of this great state and you
will pass on with a deeper respect for the prim-
itive qualities that have helped build up so
great a commonwealth. The family history
of Horace E. Brown, the leading druggist at
Scottsbluff, goes back to Illinois and Indiana,
then to Iowa, and after four years of fighting
in the Civil War, reaches Nebraska, where
different but almost as fatal enemies were
found, and finally were overcome.
Horace E. Brown was born at Mount Pleas-
ant, in Henry county, Iowa, May 19, 1867, the
eldest of six children boni to Richard T. and
Catherine (Allen) Brown. Richard T. Brown
was born at Bedford, Indiana, in 1840 and in
early life accompanied his father, John Brown,
to Iowa. During his growing period he
worked with a railroad company and was the
first agent at Pacific Junction, in Mills county.
When the Civil War was precipitated, he en-
listed and served four years as a member of
the Fourth Iowa cavalry. All his life he was
a man of good standing in the community, was
a member of the Odd Fellows and a pillar in
the Methodist Episcopal church. After the
war he was married in Iowa to Catherine
Allen, who was born in 1843 and died in 1915.
Her father, John Allen, came early to Iowa,
where he was a merchant, his death occurring
while on a business trip on the Mississippi
river between New Orleans and Burlington.
The Browns settled in Johnson county when
they came to Nebraska. They were not pre-
pared to endure the climatic changes, nor could
the father of Mr. Brown prevail against the
grasshoppers that devastated his fields, so re-
turn was made to Iowa, but it was too late, the
charm of the wide, open prairies, the deep blue
skies, the freshening winds and the fruitful
land, had made living in any other section im-
possible, and in 1880 the Johnson county res-
idents were once more increased by the Brown
family, who settled at Tecumseh. The father
died in January, 1917.
Horace E. Brown had excellent school ad-
vantages at Tecumseh. While attending
school in the winters, he worked on a farm in
the summers and learned to punch cattle on a
ranch near Tecumseh, Beatrice and Nebraska
City. An agricultural life, however, did not
appeal to him, and after spending two years
in the drug business, in Idaho, he went to
Louisville, Nebraska, where he carried on a
drug business for ten years. In 1905 he came
to Scottsbluff and opened his drug store here
which he has conducted ever since. Both
graduates Nebraska State University and reg-
istered druggists.
In Idaho, in 1890, Mr. Brown was united in
marriage to Miss Mary Lindsey, who was born
in Boise City, and they have two children,
Richard and Raymond. Richard is an Ameri-
can soldier with the Army of Occupation in
Germany, entering military service in Septem-
ber, 1917, as a member of the Eighty-ninth
Division. He was educated in the University
of Nebraska. He married Beatrice Mcintosh.
Raymond was also educated in the State Uni-
versity. He married Zona Cline.
In politics Mr. Brown is a sound Republican
as was his late father. He has served at
times, as a member of the city council and
when his party brought him forward as a can-
didate for mayor, he lost the election by but
seven votes. Mr. Brown is the most advanced
48
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Mason in the county, a member of K. C. C. H.,
and a shriner, and belongs also to the Modern
Woodmen. Mrs. Brown is active in social
circles to some extent, is interested in all char-
itable enterprises and is a member of the Epis-
copal church.
DANIEL R. SCHENCK, justice of the
peace and police judge, of Scottsbluiif, who has
served continuously and with the greatest effi-
ciency since 1911, is well and favorably known
in different sections of the state. He was born
in Parke county, Indiana, September 8, 1849,
the second of eight children born to Cyrenius
and Mildred H. (Reeder) Schenck.
Judge Schenck's father was born in 1827,
in Butler county, Ohio, of Holland ancestry.
In 1846 he was married in Parke county, In-
diana, to Mildred H. Reeder, who was born in
Virginia, in 1827, and died in 1913, surviving
her husband one year. They were faithful
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1856 removal was made to Iowa, where the
father engaged in the practice of medicine.
At the outbreak of the Civil War he entered
the Union army and served on hospital duty
for four years, being quartered at Jeiiferson
barracks during the greater part of the time.
In 1876 Dr. Schenck came to Webster county,
Nebraska, where he later served in the offices
of coroner and justice of the peace. He was a
Republican in his political views and belonged
to the Masonic fraternity.
Daniel R. Schenck began life on a farm
after obtaining a country school educa-
tion, in Davis, Decatur and Warren counties,
Iowa. In 1872, while in Warren county, he
met with the serious accident that cost him
his hand, it having been caught in a circular
saw. When able once more to resume active
life, he taught one term of school in Warren
county and then went to Decatur to reenter a
mill and completed the miller's trade. Through
work at this trade, he came to Republican Val-
ley, in 1876, and engaged in the milling busi-
ness there until 1909. when he came to Scotts-
blufT and took charge of a mill for his brother-
in-law, O. R. Brown, which he operated for a
year, when it was destroyed by fire. In 1907,
in Republican Valley, he had been elected jus-
tice of the peace and servtd with much gen-
eral satisfaction. In 1911 he was appointed
both justice of the peace and police judge of
ScottsblufY. No one could perform the duties
of these offices with more discrimination on
the side of justice than Judge Schenck and
there is never any danger but that the dignity
of his courtroom will be upheld. In his polit-
ical affiliation he has always been a Republican.
On March 31, 1881, Judge Schenck was
united in marriage with Miss Alice L. Brown,
who was born in Illinois, and they have three
children : Albert O., Lloyd C. and Emma E.
Albert O. went to Europe with the American
Expeditionary Force in June, 1918, entered
military service in December, 1917, and has
proved himself a brave and gallant soldier;
Lloyd C, a soldier with the Army of Occupa-
tion in Germany, was sent, after enlistment, to
Jefiferson barracks, where his grandfather had
been stationed during his military service,
many years ago. At the time of entering ser-
vice, Judge Schenck's sons had just been grad-
uated from Kansas City Business College,
Kansas City, Missouri. Emma E., the only
daughter, is trying to keep up the home at-
mosphere for her father, as Mrs. Schenck was
called away in 1915. Judge Schenck and his
children all belong to the Methodist Episcopal
church.
WINFIELD EVANS, who is serving his
second term as water commissioner of Scotts-
bluiif, has been identified with ScottsblufT coun-
ty since 1886. He is widely known, for
through his scientific agricultural efiforts much
has been done to bring this section of the Pan-
handle into a "place in the sun." While mod-
est in regard to his achievements, he naturally
takes pleasure in his success, and there are few
representative agricultural bodies in the state
that have not taken a deep interest in the meth-
ods which have produced the remarkable ex-
hibits of vegetables and fruits that for some
years have carried ofif medals and premiums at
various state fairs.
Winfield Evans was born at Knoxville, Illi-
nois, May 17, 1864, the son of Charles and
Jane Margaret (Wilber) Evans, the former
born in Hartford county, Connecticut, in June,
1819, and died in 1888, and the latter in Scho-
harie county. New York, in 1830, and died in
April, 1886, in Illinois. Of their seven chil-
dren the following, besides Winfield, survive:
Ada, the wife of Frank Hardesty, a druggist
at Rigby, Idaho : Harry, a traveling salesman,
of Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; Ralph, a printer of
Milwaukee, and Grace, the wife of Walter
Reiter, of Indiana. The mother of the family
was a member of the Episcopal church. The
father was a carpenter and cabinetmaker by
trade and lived in several states. He came to
Scottsbluff county. Nebraska, and homesteaded
in 1887 and died here. He was a Repulican in
politics and a member of the Masonic fratern-
ity for many years.
In the public schools of Avoca. Iowa, Mr.
Evans secured some educational training but
George E. Mason
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
49
he was only nine years old when he began
farm work and continued interested in that
line until 1894, at the same time acquiring a
working knowledge of the building trades.
He came to Scottsbluff county in 1886 and as-
sisted in building the first houses in Scotts-
bluff village, to which place he moved in 1900.
He carried on building and contracting until
1915 when he erected his own comfortable
residence and since taking possession of it has
applied himself entirely to intensive gardening,
his main object being to grow exceptionally
fine vegetables to exhibit at state fairs. Dur-
ing the five years his products have appeared
on exhibition he has won first premiums for
four years, and won first premium for the best
county display in the world at the Interna-
tional Soil Produce Exhibition, at Kansas City
in 1918. This is a notable distinction and re-
flects great credit on Mr. Evans.
On July 28, 1886, Mr. Evans married Miss
Minnie J. Coakes, at Council Bluffs, Iowa,
and they had two children: Charles J., who
is employed with a sugar company at Bayard,
Nebraska, and Ada Appoline, the wife of Ern-
est Parmenter, of San Diego, California. The
mother of these children died July 26, 1893,
on her twenty-fifth birthday. On January 20,
1901, Mr. Evans married Miss Henrietta E.
Hughes, who was born at Eldora, Hardin
county, Iowa, and they have four children:
Donald, Allen, Dorothy, and Winfield James,
who took first premium when two years old at
the 1916 county baby show, also at the Lincoln
State Fair, when twenty-eight months old.
Mrs. Evans is a member of the Presbyterian
church. In politics Mr. Evans is staunch in
his adherence to Republican principles. He is
a Scottish Rite Mason and has passed through
the chairs of the local lodge.
GEORGE E. MASOX is a sterling citizen
who contributes no negligible (|U0ta to the bus-
iness prestige of the village of Bayard. Morrill
county, where he is successfidly conducting a
well-equipped general wnnd-w. nking shop.
Further interest attaches tn his career by rea-
son of the fact that he is distinctively one of the
pioneers of this favored section of the state.
Mr. Mason was born in New York city, on
the 6th of February. 1852, and is a scion of the
staunchest of American ancestry of German
origin, his parents and his paternal grandfather
having likewise been natives of the national
metropolis and his paternal great-grandfather
having been born in Hessen, Germany, whence
he was sent by his sovereign to the American
colonies. This sturdy patriot joined the Con-
tinental forces and served with utmost valor as
a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Fred-
erick E. Mason, father of the subject of this
sketch. U])held the military prestige of the fam-
ily name by his service in the defense of the
Union when the Civil War was precipitated.
He became a member of Company C, Sixty-
ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, in which
he rose to the rank of lieutenant. He was
killed at the battle of Antietam in August,
1863. He was by trade a wood-carver and
pattern-maker. His widow, whose maiden
name was Hattie Weinerger, eventually con-
tracted a second marriage, when she became
the wife of Ferdinand Dippel. In 1874 they
removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where the
devoted mother is still living ( 1919) at the
venerable age of eighty-seven years. Her par-
ents were natives of Germany and were resi-
dents of New York at the time i>f their death.
George E. Mason passed tlie jiennil of his
childhood and youth in New \'(n-k city, where
he was afforded good educational advantages,
including those of a leading academy of music,
an institution in which he developed his excep-
tional musical ability. In the national metrop-
olis he served a f<iur-years a])|ireiiticeship to
the trade of pattern-maker, and thereafter he
obtained from the government a position as
chief musician and instructor in organizing and
instructing a government band iii the city of
Chicago. In his official capacity he was later
sent to various other localities, and in 1877 he
was assigned to duty at Fort Laramie, where
he remained six weeks. He returned to this
frontier post in the following year and there
served as chief musician, with the rank of lieu-
tenant, until 1879, when he resigned his gov-
ernmental post and engaged in the work of his
trade, in New York city. There he continued
his activities until 1884, when he removed to
Indianapolis, Indiana, where he continued the
work of his trade until the autumn of the fol-
lowing year, when he heard and responded to
the call of the progressive west. It was thus
in the fall of 1885 that Mr. Mason came to
western Nebraska, where he located a home-
stead in what is now Scottsbluff county, his
pioneer home being situated four miles east of
the present village of Minatare. To the devel-
oping and improving of his claim Mr. Mason
continued to give his attention until 1901, when
he sold the property and removed to Bayard,
Morrill county, and established himself as a
carpenter and builder. He continued to be
thus engaged for a period of about three years,
within which he erected some of the first of the
more substantial and permanent buildings of
the new town. Since that time he has success-
fully conducted his general wood-working
50
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
shop, gaining high reputation as a skilled arti-
san, as well as a reliable and substantial citizen
to whom is accorded pioneer honors. Mr.
Mason has never abated his interest in music.
He had the distinction of organizing the first
band at Gering, Scottsbluff county, as well as
the first at Bayard. While residing on his
claim he drove a distance of fifteen miles to
instruct the band at Gering, and as a skilled
musician he has otherwise done much to de-
velop general musical interests in this section
of the state.
As a pioneer Mr. ]\Iason bore his full share
of responsibilities in connection with civic de-
velopment and progress. He has never wav-
ered in his allegiance to the Republican party.
He served as justice of the peace in both
Scottsblui? and Morrill counties, his services in
this office covering a period of fully a quarter
of a century, besides which he was a member
of the first school board organized in what is
now Scottsbluff county.
October 15, 1884, recorded the marriage of
Mr. Mason to Miss Christina Ruehl, who was
born and reared in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio,
her parents having been natives of Germany
and her father having served as a gallant sol-
dier of the Union in the Civil War. In 1886
Mrs. Mason joined her husband on the pioneer
farm in western Nebraska, and she had the dis-
tinction of being the third white woman to be-
come a resident of this now favored section of
the Platte Valley, where she bravely bore her
share of pioneer trials and vicissitudes. Of the
eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Mason three
died in early childhood. George E. conducts a
barber shop at Bayard, and is also the leader of
the Bayard band and head of a well-trained
orchestra in this village; Edith is the wife of
Nelson Wysong, of Harrison, Arkansas;
Maude Emily is the wife of Lloyd Staples, of
Eos Angeles, California ; Lydia L. is the wife
of Frederick Young, of Bayard; Hazel E. re-
mains at the parental home.
Mr. Mason is one of the well known and
highly esteemed citizens and business men of
Morriss county, and in connection with his
wood- working shop, which is fifty by sixty-
four feet in dimensions, he conducts a black-
smith shop, so that he is prepared to handle
diversified work with expedition and ability.
JOHNSON H. GR.'VVES, for many years
identified with lumber interests in different
states of the Union, has been connected with
Scottsbluff enterprises more or less continu-
ously since 1908. He is vice president and
treasurer of L. W. Cox & Co., of this city.
Mr. Graves is a native of Nebraska, born at
Palmyra, August 7, 1873, the son of James A.
and Eva T. (Quick) Graves, the former bom
in Illinois and the latter in Pennsylvania.
James Graves came to Nebraska in 1868 and
was married at Nebraska City. There were
five children in the family, three of these sur-
vive : Johnson H., of Scottsbluff; May, the
wife of Charles Young, of Freeport, Illinois,
and Carroll, a farmer near Fort Lupton, Colo-
rado. The parents were members of the Bap-
tist church. The father was identified with
the Populist party during its political ascend-
ancy, and he belonged to the orders of United
Workmen and Woodmen of the World. The
paternal grandfather, John Graves, spent His
last years in the state of Washington and died
there in his ninety-fourth year.
Johnson Graves was reared on his father's
homestead in Otoe county, attended the local
schools and the State University for three
years. He then accepted a position in the state
land commisioner's office at Lincoln, which he
filled four years, and in 1896-1897 was a clerk
in the state legislature. For five months he
was associated with the Barnett Lumber Com-
pany at McCook, Nebraska, and from that
time may be dated his interest in the lumber
industry, in which he has since been an impor-
tant factor. In dift'erent capacities he has been
connected with the lumber trade in Nebraska,
Colorado. Montana and Idaho. With the in-
tention of locating permanently. Mr. Graves
came to Scottsbluff in 1908 and bought out the
Pathfinder Lumber Company, afterward he
had interests at other points for five years,
then returned here and bought an interest in
the large enterprise conducted under the name
of L. W. Cox & Co., incorporated, of which
he is vice president, treasurer and manager.
In business circles he stands high.
On August 24, 1899, Mr. Graves married
Miss Jennie Holland, who was born in Otoe
county. Nebraska, and is a daughter of L. J.
and Sidney E. Holland, the former was a
prominent farmer in Red Willow county, from
which he was elected a member of the state
legislature in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Graves
have two children: Jackson, who is in school,
and Elizabeth May, who has just passed her
second birthday. Mr. Graves has settled con-
victions in regard to politics and has always
been affiliated with the Democratic party.
HENRY W. NEFF, an enterprising busi-
ness man of Scottsbluff, is a member of the
firm doing business here under the name of
the Carr-Neft" Lumber Company, which has
the distinction of being the oldest business
firm in this city. Mr. Neft' was born in Penn-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
51
sylvania, came to Nebraska in 1890 and to
Scottsbluff in 1900.
His parents were Benjamin Landis and
Mary (McAIurtry) Neff, the former born in
the keystone state, a descendant of tine old
Pennsylvania stock, while the mother was of
Scotch-Irish stock. They were married in
Pennsylvania and the father died in that state.
Their eldest son came to Lincoln, Nebraska, in
1880, later moving to Sidney and still later to
Lexington, Nebraska, and in 1890 the other
members of the family joined him there and
all still reside there except Henry W. They
are as follows: Maggie, the widow of J. E.
Robb; Ada, the wife of J. D. Eger ; John, in
the lumber business, and Benjamin Landis, in
the real estate business. The family belongs
to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which
the father was an exhorter.
Henry W. Nefif was graduated from the
Lexington high school in 1897, then attended
the university at Denver, after which he re-
turned to Lexington and remained six months.
Desiring a business career Mr. Neff took this
time to look about for a promising opening, and
in 1900 he associated himself with J. M. Carr
at Gering, and they organized the Carr & Neff
Lumber Company, which, now incorporated,
is the Carr-Neff Lumber Company, capital-
ized at $60,000. with an investment of $200,-
000. They maintained a plant at Gering and
at Scottsbluff until 1903, when they moved the
main plant to the latter city. The business has
prospered, although both partners started the
enterprise on borrowed capital. They have
lumber yards at Mitchell, Bridgeport and
Northport, and they do a general lumber and
coal business and handle paints, oils and other
commodities. Mrs. Neff is treasurer of the
company.
In February, 1903, Mr. Nef¥ married Miss
Libbie Johnston, of Lexington. Nebraska, who
died May 13, 1910, leaving one son, Kenneth
Landis, who was born January 7, 1905. Mr.
Neff was married a second time in August,
1913, to Miss Anna Burnham. and they have
one daughter, Margaret Ann, who was born in
July, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Neff are members
of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is
a Republican and formerly was very active in
village affairs. While serving on the village
board, of which he was chairman, he brought
about the installation of the electric light plant
and the city water works, these public util-
ities doing as much as anything else to bring
population and capital here. He has given en-
couragement to many of the stable enterprises
which are rapidly making this beautiful little
city known far and wide.
LEE E. LEWIS, one of the progressive
business men of the younger generation who
are making financial history in the Panhandle,
resides at Scottsbluff and is the owner of a
stock ranch in this county. He attributes his
business success to the opportunities he found
awaiting when he decided to make Nebraska
his permanent home, as he came to the state in
1897 and to Scottsbluff in 1911.
Mr. Lewis was born in Rice county, Minne-
sota, April 12, 1870, the son of Richard D. and
Adelia (Wales) Lewis, the former born in
the state of New York and the latter in Wis-
consin, in which state they were married. Of
their five children but two survive : Lee E. and
Incy D. The father came to Wisconsin with
his parents in childhood. He worked at the
carpenter trade when he reached manhood.
When the war between the North and South
was precipitated, Richard D. Lewis enlisted
in the Union army and served three years and
three months as a member of the Twentieth
Wisconsin volunteer infantry. After the war
closed he moved to Minnesota, where he home-
steaded. He was a Republican in his political
views and both he and wife were members of
the Methodist Episcopal church.
Lee E. Lewis had school advantages at Fari-
bault, Minnesota, after which he was a clerk
in a store for a time, then was a farmer for
six years in northern Minnesota. In 1897,
with sixty cents in his pocket as capital, Mr.
Lewis came to Nebraska and settled in Valley
county. Gradually he became independent in
the stock business, not through any great good
luck, but through the old reliable method of
hard work and a saving sense of thrift. In
1911 Mr. Lewis came to the Panhandle, locat-
ing in Scottsbluff, and has been a vitalizing
force here ever since. He became associated
in the furniture business with G. L. Wilcox
and also was an auctioneer until 1918. In the
meanwhile he had acquired one of the finest
cattle ranches in this county, which lies eigh-
teen miles north of Scottsbluff, where he feeds
and ships right off the grass. Mr. Lewis is
very appreciative of what Nebraska has done
for him, but his friends call attention also to
his capacity for hard work and the business
integrity which has backed all his ventures.
In 1900 Mr. Lewis married Miss Ida L.
Sheldon, who was born in Greeley county, Ne-
braska, and they have two children, Irma May
and Donald D.. both attending school. Mr.
Lewis and his family belong to the Methodist
Episcopal church. While never unduly active
in politics, he has firm political convictions and
has always been affiliated with the Republican
party. He has belonged to the order of Odd
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Fellows for many years and also is a member
of the Modern Woodmen.
FRANK C. MAGRUDER. civil engineer
by profession, came to Scottsbluft' in the spring
of 1915 and took charge of the Farmer Irriga-
tion District that, under able management, is
making Nebraska one of the garden spots of
the country. Mr. Magruder was born at
Webb City, Missouri, January 16, 1879.
The parents of Mr. Magruder, William Ed-
ward and Mary Alice (Randall) Magruder,
now reside near Appleton City, ^Missouri. The
father was born at Kirksville, Missouri, a son
of John Henry Magruder, who was born near
Baltimore, Maryland. The grandfather came
to Missouri at an early day and went to Cali-
fornia in 1849. After he returned to Mis-
souri, he was a stock buyer and conducted a
meat business. William Edward Magruder is
a blacksmith by trade. For a number of years
he was a miner, but now is a farmer near Ap-
pleton City. In politics he is a Democrat and
fraternally is a Mason. He married Mary
Alice Randall, who was born at Macomb, Illi-
nois, and of their eight children the following
are living: Claude, a blacksmith at Lamar,
Missouri ; Harry Edward, a blacksmith and
miner, at Milford, Utah ; Frank Cecil, who re-
sides at ScottsblufT ; Ralph E., who lives in
South Dakota; Alfred and Raymond J., both
of whom are farmers near Appleton City. The
parents are members of the Christian church.
Frank C. Magruder was educated at the
Missouri State University, from which he was
graduated as a civil engineer in 1903. He
soon attracted attention in his profession and
was sent to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, on gov-
ernment work, later was transferred to South
Dakota, and in the spring of 1915 was ap-
pointed to his present responsible position and
came to Scottsbluft'. He has inspired con-
fidence and the thorough manner in which he
attends to the small details as well as the great
ones, gives promise of still more marvelous re-
sults than those already brought about.
In 1908 Mr. Magruder was united in mar-
riage to Miss Martha Driver, of Hill City,
South Dakota, and they have two children:
Lida Jane and William Henry. They are
members of the Episcopal church. He is a
Mason and both he and wife belong to the
Eastern Star, of which he was worthy patron
at Bellefourche, South Dakota. He is a Re-
publican in politics.
GUY CARLSON. — The twentieth cen-
tury is notable for the important commercial
interests established and ably managed by
men young in years but old in their business
visions. An able representative of this class
in the upper valley is Mr. Carlson of Scotts-
bluff, who came to the Platte valley in 1910 ,
and to this city in 1915, where he has since
been in business, and is now senior partner in
the Carlson-Scott Implement Company. Mr.
Carlson is a native son of Nebraska, bom in
Kearney county, October 25, 1886, his parents
being C. J. and Anna V. (Gustafson) Carlson,
who now live comfortably retired at Axtell,
Nebraska. They were born in Sweden. The
father came to the United States at the age of
nineteen years and took a homestead in Kear-
ney county, Nebraska, in 1881. The mother
accompanied her parents on the journey to the
United States when she was a small girl of six.
Besides Guy they have two other children :
Elmer, who carries on the home farm near
Axtell, Kearney county, and Lawrence, a
farmer near Twin Falls, Idaho. The parents
are members of the Presbyterian church. In
politics the father and sons are all Repub-
licans.
Guy Carlson attended the public schools of
Axtell, Nebraska, after which he spent nine
months taking a business course in a commer-
cial college at Hastings. After his studies
were finished he spent some years on the
homestead in Kearney county as a practical
farmer. In 1910 he came to the Platte valley
and for four years bought grain for the Cen-
tral Granaries Company, of Minatare. In
1915 he located in Scottsbluff and engaged in
the implement business with a Mr. Bennett,
whom he subsequently bought out, and in 1917
sold a half interest in the concern to Ambrose
E. Scott, since which time the firm carries on
business under the name of the Carlson-Scojtt
Implement Company. The trade territory of
the firm is largely the Platte valley, and their
stock is complete, including modern threshers
and farm tractors. Both partners give per-
sonal attention to the business which is one of
the largest at Scottsblufif.
In 1916 Mr. Carlson married Miss May
Lane, who was born in Iowa. June 9, 1919,
was born a daughter, Bonney Elane. Mr.
Carlson is a member of the Modern Wood-
men and the Knights of Pythias, of which or-
der he is vice chancellor. He is interested in
all that concerns the welfare of the city and at
present is serving in the office of fire chief,
much to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens.
JAMES R. MURPHY, who occupies an
exceedingly important position as general
superintendent of the Intermountain Railway
Light & Power Company, has made his head-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
53
quarters at Scottsbluff since July, 1918, has
identified himself with local interests and has
made many personal friends.
James R. Murphy was born at Elkhart, Illi-
nois, in 1878, the ninth in a family of ten chil-
dren bom to Patrick and Ann E. (Barron)
Murphy. Both parents were born in Ireland
but passed the greater part of their lives in the
United States, to which the father of Mr.
Murphy came at the age of seventeen years,
and the mother when a babe of six months.
They were married at Freeport, Illinois. The
father died in 1909, at the age of eighty-seven
years, and the mother in 1911, at the age of
eighty-three. They were members of the Ro-
man Catholic church. In earlier years Patrick
Murphy was a superintendent of construction
work for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, but
spent his final years as a farmer in Illinois.
James R. Murphy was educated in the pub-
lic schools, including the high school at Wil-
liamsville, after which he worked for the Cal-
lahan-Kratz Construction Company of Oma-
ha, on the Illinois Drainage & Mississippi
canal. Then he spent a year in the state nor-
mal school at Normal, Illinois, following
which he continued his studies for three years
in the University of Illinois. Thus well
equipped for both professional and business
life, he chose the latter and soon became iden-
tified with the Commonwealth Edison Com-
pany, Chicago, six months later, in 1907, trans-
ferring to the Western Electric Company of
the same city, where he continued until 1909,
when he was called to take charge of the
Hoisington Light & Ice Company, of Hoising-
ton. Barton county, Kansas, where he re-
mained until 1917. In the meanwhile, in 1912
he had taken charge of the Great Bend Water
& Electric Company, of Great Bend, Kansas,
and served as vice president and general man-
ager of both plants. Mr. Murphy then went
to Wellington, Kansas, as city engineer and
superintendent of public utilities, and from
there came to Scottsbluif in July. 1918. The
Intermountain Railway Light & Power Com-
pany distributes power to Gering, Minatare,
Melbeta, Bayard and Scottsbluff, furnishing
heat to ScottsbluflF, and ice throughout the en-
tire valley, Mr. Murphy being the alert, cap-
able general superintendent of all the plants.
The importance of this work largely claims his
time, but he is not indififerent as a citizen. In
every way possible he has shown an interest
in ScottsblufT, contributing to local movements
and encouraging worthy enterprises, with the
expectation of making this city his permanent
home.
In 1915 Mr. Murphy was united in marriage
to Miss Elinor Lewis, who was born at Great
Bend. Kansas, and they have two little daugh-
ters, namely : Margaret Ann and Genivieve.
Mrs. Murphy was reared in the Methodist
Episcopal faith but Mr. Murphy belongs to
the Catholic church. He is a member of the
Knights of Columbus and of the Elks at
Scottsbluff, Neb. In his political views he is
a Democrat with a tendency toward inde-
pendence.
JULIUS THEO THOELECKE, who was
one of the pioneer merchants of Sidney. Chey-
enne county. Nebraska, is now a resident of
Pocatello, Idalio. He was born in Stade prov-
ince of Hanover. Germany. April 12, 1854,
and when given regular courses in education,
he learned the jeweler's trade by working four
}ears as an apprentice.
In 1872. on the 26th day of June, he landed
in New York city and went at once to Iowa
City, where he landed on July 3d. Here he
took up his trade, working for his brother until
the summer of 1874, when he went overland
to Omaha, where he again took up his trade,
and worked for about three months, after
which he went to Plattsmouth. At this place
he remained for about a year, falling ill with
typhoid fever. Then he went to Saint Joseph,
Missouri, and remained until October 7. 1875.
From there he returned to Germany for a
>ear's visit, after which he returned to Omaha,
and resumed work at his trade. October 7,
1877, he bought a jewelry store at Tekamah,
Nebraska, which he operated until April, 1879,
when he .sold out. In July of the same year,
he located at Sidney, Nebraska, then in the
wild frontier, and opened a jewelry store,
which he operated continuously until December
9. 1894. He then went to Pocatello, Idaho,
and engaged in the jewelry business success-
fully until the present time. He is now closing
out with the intention to retire permanently
from business activity.
On November 15. 1878, he was married to
Miss Lyda E, Ringland, at Iowa City, Iowa.
She was born, reared, and educated at Iowa
Cit}', and died at Pocatello, Idaho, March 16,
1918. In her younger years she was a vigor-
ous woman of exceptional strength and cour-
age, and none of the frontier dangers had any
terrors for her.
In August, 1885, Mr. Thoelecke took a
homestead in that part of Cheyenne county,
Nebraska, that later became Banner county.
He made final proof in due time and still owns
the land (1919). He is well acquainted with
Grant L. Shumway, the historian of this work,
and unconsciously contributed to the unknown
54
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
or rather obscure history of this county and
vicinity years ago.
Upon the Thoelecke homestead was em-
ployed Francois Jourdain, from whom the his-
torian first learned of the story of Mallet
brothers and their journey through this coun-
try, and from his friend Tommy Chaunavierre
(Shunover) came the connecting link between
the past and the present. This stor}- is told in
full elsewhere in this history.
Mr. Thoelecke was an active Republican,
and was a delegate to a Republican state con-
vention held in Omaha. He never wanted
office for himself, but was active for his friends
and party, taking part in all the town, county,
and state elections.
At present he is an active member of the
B. P. O. E. No. 674 at Pocatello, Idaho. He
has been prominent in both the Knights of
Pythias and Odd Fellows, being a charter
member of both at Sidney, but he has since
dropped out of them, retaining his fraternal
allegiance only to an active interest in the Elks.
This lodge has made him its representative to
the Grand Lodge.
Mr. and Mrs. Thoelecke were never blessed
with any children of their own, but they have
an adopted son, Stanley H. Thoelecke, who for
some time has been associated in business with
his foster father.
Stanley was a twin child from a distant rela-
tive of the Thoeleckes. At the age of six
months, when he was taken to care for by
them, he lacked the vitality to hold up his head.
Dr. Stewart, then of Sidney, said that his lungs
were gone, or never had been sound. Mrs.
Thoelecke, fondly called "Lyde" by her
friends, then took the child in hand, and in her
own vigorous way she treated it. In a year the
boy was a strong, healthy child. He has charge
of the acetaline welding and repairing depart-
ment in the traction company at Pocatello, and
is a splendid entertainer, with high ambitions,
in addition. They are now talking him for
mayor of his cit\'.
WILLIA^I A. McCAIN, who through
thrift and good management has, in a com-
paratively short time, built up a fine garage
and automobile business, came to Scottsblufif
in another line in 1905. He was born in Brad-
ford county, Pennsylvania. April 22, 1882.
The parents of Mr. McCain are William W.
and Orpha A. (Granger) McCain, who reside
at Stevensville, Pennsylvania, where the father
has been a merchant for thirty years. During
the Civil War period he was a captain in the
Home Guards. Of his three children the two
survivors, William A. and Mildred, both re-
side at Scottsblufif. The latter is the wife of
Clarence L. Morris of this city. In politics the
father of Mr. McCain is a Republican, and
both parents are members of the Presbyterian
church.
William A. McCain completed the public
school course at Stevensville and then assisted
his father in his store. In 1905 he came to
Scottsblufif and was a clerk in the store of
J. A. Smith for three years before engaging in
business for himself. In 1908, in partnership
with C. O. Harris, and with a capital of $600,
they opened a garage and continued together
for five years, when James D. Shaw became
Mr. McCain's partner. This firm has made
great headway and now has an investment of
$50,000. A general automobile business is
done and the firm handles the Overland and
the ^^'illys-Knight cars. Through wise invest-
ments the firm has accumulated valuable city
property and two farms.
In June, 1910, Mr. McCain was united in
marriage to Miss Leda A. Ross, who was born
in Iowa, a daughter of William Ross, who is
a produce merchant at Maitland, Missouri.
They have three sons, namely : William Ross,
Jack L. and James A., their ages ranging from
eight to three years. Mrs. McCain is a mem-
ber of the Presbyterian church. Mr. McCain
is a solid Republican, not a seeker for any
office, but a man of sincere political convic-
tions who conscientiously maintains them.
ARTHUR L. SELZER, city engineer of
Scottsbluff', worthily represents that admirable
class of American modern young men, who
leave the schoolroom with fixed ideas of use-
fulness and seldom fail in reaching satisfac-
tory results. In a disordered world this fact
has saving grace. Mr. Selzer was born at
Carroll, Iowa, April 9, 1887.
The parents of Mr. Selzer are Michael and
Munzen (Maier) Selzer. the former of whom
was born in Baden, Germanv, October 26,
1858, and the latter at Des Moines, Iowa. The
Selzer family was founded in the United
States by the grandparents of City Engmeer
Selzer, George and Mary (Marz) Selzer, who
came here from Germany in the spring of 1868
and spent the rest of their lives on their home-
stead in the state of Iowa. The father of Mr.
Selzer came to Nebraska City. Nebraska, in
1884, the year of his marriage, and resided
there until 1913. when he came to Scottsblufif,
where he is a substantial business man.
Arthur L. Selzer had the best of educational
advantages afforded him, and in 1911 was
graduated as a civil engineer from the Ne-
braska State University. He immediately
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
55
went to work for the Tri-State Irrigation
Ditch Commission, resuming his activities with
the Tri-State after his return and continuing
until he entered upon the duties of city en-
gineer, to which he was elected in 1914, and
has remained in office ever since because of
marked efficiency. He devotes his whole time
I to the duties of his office.
In 1912 Mr. Selzer was united in marriage
1 to Miss Willa J. Wallace, who is a daughter
j of Wilbur Wallace, who is in the banking bus-
1 iness at Henry, Nebraska, and they have one
' child, Bettie, an engaging little daughter of
I three years. Mr. and Mrs. Selzer are mem-
j bers of the Presbyterian church. He is a
Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner.
MICHAEL SELZER, who is a leading bus-
iness man of Scottsbluff, is identified with the
Scottsbluff Creamery Coinpany, of which he is
a stockholder and treasurer and also general
manager. Mr. Selzer was born in Baden, Ger-
many, October 26, 1858. His parents were
George and Mary (Marz) Selzer, who came
to the United States in April, 1868, and spent
the rest of their lives on their homestead in
Iowa. They had the following children :
:; George, in the automobile business at Carroll,
! Iowa ; Marie, a widow, lives at Denver ;
' Michael, a valued resident of Scottsbluff;
Kate, who lives on the old homestead in Iowa ;
Jack, who farms the old homestead; Barbara,
who lives with her sister and brother on the
I homestead, and John, in the ice cream business
I at Carroll, Iowa. The parents were members
(of the Lutheran church.
Michael Selzer remained on the old home-
stead until he was twenty-three years old, then
worked for a time in a bottling factory before
engaging in the business for himself in 1882 at
Carroll. In 1884 he came to Nebraska and
bought out a bottling plant at Nebraska City,
where he carried on the business until 1913,
when he came to Scottsbluft and became iden-
tified with an important concern here as above
mentioned. Through thrift and business alert-
ness he has accumulated much valuable prop-
erty which is represented in farming lands in
both Morrill and Scottsbluff counties. The
Scottsbluft' Creamery Company has an au-
thorized capital of $50,000. The manufacture
of butter and ice cream is carried on and bot-
tling of soft beverages is also a feature.
At Des Moines, Iowa, in 1884, Mr. Selzer
was united in marriage to Miss ^Munzen Maier,
who was born in that city, and they have three
children : Arthur L., city engineer of Scotts-
tilutt ; Caroline, the wife'of D. C. Leach, who
i- '.-ashier of a bank at Beard, Nebraska, and
Alilton R., now at home after almost two years
of service in the aviation corps of the United
States, which he entered in June, 1917. Mr.
Selzer and his family attend the Christian
church. He belongs to the Elks at Nebraska
City and to other organizations. In politics he
chooses to be independent and while at Ne-
braska City accepted no political offce except
on the school board.
ASA F. MIDDAUGH, who has been iden-
tified with the business interests of Scottsblufif
since 1913, exemplifies the progressive spirit
that so signally marks the young American
business man. Honest, active, enterprising,
well educated and of courteous demeanor, the
country's commercial interests seem to be safe
in such hands. Mr. Middaugh is president
and general manager of the Scottsbluft' Motor
Company.
Mr. Middaugh was born at Denver, Colo-
rado, August 26, 1890, one of five children
born to Asa F. and Amelia (Siever) Mid-
daugh, who were married at Cimarron, Colfax
county. New Mexico. The father of Mr. Mid-
daugh was born at Erie, Pennsylvania, a son
of William Middaugh, who was also born in
Pennsylvania. In 1860 he came to Colorado
and was elected the first sheriff of Denver
county. The father of Mr. Middaugh accom-
panied his father to Colorado but after his
marriage and the birth of his children, estab-
lished himself in the mercantile business at
Del Norte, where he was a merchant and
banker until he retired, when he returned to
Denver, which remains the family home. The
mother of Mr. Middaugh was born at St.
Louis, Missouri. Of their three surviving
children, A. F. is the youngest, the others be-
ing: Nettie, the wife of A. M. Johnson, of
Chicago, and Florence, who resides with her
parents.
A. F. Middaugh was graduated from the
Denver high school in 1909, after which he
spent two years in the Colorado State Univer-
city. He had two years of business experience
with his father at Del Norte, following which
he came to Scottsbluff and in October, 1913,
in partnership with Ray Smith, opened a gar-
age and handled the Ford automobiles. In
1916 he sold his Ford interest and organized
the Scottsbluft' Motor Company, which is cap-
italized at $15,000. The business is in a high-
ly prosperous condition, the company han-
dling the Dodge and Cadillac cars.
On October 30, 1916. Mr. Middaugh was
united in marriage to Miss Mable Maxon, who
is a daughter of E. E. IMaxon. Airs. Mid-
daugh is a member of the Presbyterian church.
56
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Mr. Middaugh belongs to the Elks and retains
his membership in his old college fraternity,
Phi Delta Theta.
ALEXANDER MESTON, who owns and
operates one of the best equipped and most
modern laundry plants in the Platte valley, has
been established at Scottsbluff since 1912, but
has had many years of experience in this bus-
iness at other points. Mr. Meston was born in
April. 1870, in Black Hawk county, Iowa.
The parents of Mr. Meston were Alexander
and Agnes (Hutchinson) Meston, both of
whom were born in Scotland. They came to
the United States in 1867 and before coming
to Nebraska lived in Iowa and in Wisconsin,
where the father worked as a blacksmith. For
five years after coming to this state he was in
the lumber business at Harvard, in Clay coun-
ty, and then moved to Spring Ranch, where he
was engaged in milling until his death, in 1890.
Of his children, Alexander was the third in
order of birth, the others being as follows:
Sarah Ann, the wife of Dr. F. W. Dean, of
Council Bluffs, Iowa ; Agnes, a teacher in the
public schools of Hastings, Nebraska; John
James, in the hardware business at Bradford,
Illinois, and Helen, who resides with her
mother at Hastings. Miss Meston is a highly
educated lady and for six years was dean of
the Women's department at Doane College.
The family attends the Congregational church.
Alexander Meston attended school at Spring
Ranch and spent two years in Doane College,
after which he assisted his father in the mill-
ing business. In 1890 he first embarked in the
laundry business and continued in that line at
Hastings until 1900, removing then to North
Platte, where he owned a laundry which he
conducted until October, 1912, when he came
to Scottsbluff. Up to that time laundry facil-
ities here were indifferent, but Mr. Meston
bought a plant that he could remodel and start-
ed into business. By 1916 he found it neces-
sary to enlarge his quarters and erected a suit-
able building of brick construction in which
he has continued ever since. He has intro-
duced modern machinery and laundry equip-
ments of the best class and his trade has con-
tinued to expand until now he ships laundry
all through the valley. While his success has
been marked it was brought about entirely
through his own efforts. He is a large em-
ployer of labor, keeping thirty regular laun-
dry workers throughout the year.
In 1901 Mr. Meston was united in marriage
to Miss Maude Mable Martin, who was born
in Adams county, Nebraska. Her father, S.
Lewis Martin, an old pioneer of Adams coun-
ty, was one of the first sheriffs and afterward
was chief of police at Hastings. He arrested
the famous Olive robber gang that operated in
Custer county. Mr. and Mrs. Meston have
three children, namely: Alexander, Margaret
and Dorothy, their ages ranging from three to
eight years. Following in the political foot-
steps of his father, Mr. Meston is a Repub-
lican. He belongs to no fraternal organiza-
tion except the Elks.
NATHANIEL M. SNYDER, electrical en-
gineer, is a member of the firm of C. D. Sny-
der & Son, in the battery business at Scotts-
bluff. He was born at Weeping Water, Ne-
braska, April 4, 1880, and is a son of Cecil D.
and Florence M. (Hizart) Snyder.
The father of Mr. Snyder was born in the
village of Tripps Corners, near Oshkosh, Wis-
consin, in 1855. In 1872 he came to Weeping
Water, Nebraska, and went into the milling
business, removing to Alliance in 1896 and
from there came to Scottsbluff in 1897. At
one time he had an extensive milling business
and his special brand of flour took the first
prize at the state fair in Lincoln. For about
fourteen years Mr. Snyder was a miller at
Scottsbluff, using alfalfa for fuel during the
time that Kimball was the nearest railroad
shipping point. He then went into the feed
business, and subsequently, with his son, em-
barked in the battery business under the style
of C. D. Snyder & Son. They have operated
a Willard Storage Battery station for a num-
ber of years.
Nathaniel Marion Snyder was graduated
from the Alliance high school in 1898, then
entered the state university and was graduated
from the electrical mechanical course in 1901.
He began the battery business with the Stude-
baker firm at South Bend, Indiana, where he
remained eight years and had entire charge of
the electrical automobile department. He is
identified with several professional bodies, in-
cluding the Institute of Electric Engineers of
London, the Institute of Radio Engineers and
others.
In 1907 Mr. Snyder was united in marriage
to Miss Mable Grace Earnest, who was born
in Bureau county, Illinois, a daughter of Ham-
ilton and Emma (Charlton) Earnest. Both
parents died while she was young, her father
in Illinois and her mother in South Dakota. She
was adopted in her infancy by an uncle and
aunt, John R. and Anna Elizabeth (Charlton)
Earnest, the former of whom was born in
Pennsylvania and the latter at Philadelphia in
the same state. In his younger years Mr.
Earnest was a mining operator in Missouri,
GusTAV Adolpii Thomas
Gottfried Thomas
Carl Thomas
Christian Henry Thomas
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
57
later in the express business in Illinois, and
now lives retired at Joplin, Missouri. Mr. and
Mrs. Snyder attend the Methodist Episcopal
church. He is a Knight Templar Mason and
belongs to other organizations.
VALENTINE THOMAS, a resident of
Sioux county, belongs to that class of men who
have not only been eye witnesses of the won-
derful changes that have taken place but have
contributed in large measure to the develop-
ment and upbuilding of this part of Nebraska.
No finer body of land can be found in this sec-
tion of the country than "Dutch Flats," a name
given to this fertile valley by the subject of this
record, who was the first settler to locate here.
Valentine Thomas was born in Rhine Prov-
ince, Germany, June 5, 1856. He was reared
and educated in his native land and was mar-
ried there in 1885 to Miss Elizabeth Kamann.
who was born in the same locality. In 1887
they bade adieu to home and friends and sailed
for America, landing in Baltimore, Maryland,
in June. From there they made their way to
Nebraska, where Mr. Thomas had a half-
brother living in Saunders county. A month
later they came to what was then Cheyenne
county and took a preemption of one hundred
and sixty acres in what is now Scottsbluflf
county. Their first home was a very primitive
one, a dug-out, and here the family lived until
they were entitled to receive a deed to their
land from the government. Mr. Thomas then
took a tree claim one mile north, in what is
now Sioux county, and established another
home. After proving up on this he went five
miles further north and took a homestead
where he engaged in the sheep business for fif-
teen years. Here they endured all the hard-
ships and privations incident to the settling up
of a new country, but they were filled with that
determination characteristic of their race, meet-
ing and overcoming all obstacles, played their
part well and as the years have gone by they
have prospered, and Mr. Thomas is one of the
wealthy land owners of the Panhandle. He
returned to the tree claim where he has erected
modern improvements and where he now
makes his home, being the owner of three hun-
dred and thirty-nine acres of valuable land, due
to the extensive irrigation system that has been
inaugurated, of which Mr. Thomas has always
been an enthusiastic advocate and to which he
is a liberal contributor. Their first home, "a
soddy," still stands, though it has been moved a
mile from its original location. His judgment
has been good, and seeing an opportunity to in-
crease his fortune, he invested in three and one-
half sections of land in Arkansas and Prairie
counties, Arkansas, devoted to rice culture,
which is now under the management of two of
his sons. As proof of the value of this invest-
ment we may mention that in the year 1919
one hundred thousand dollars of rice was
raised and marketed from this plantation.
Mr. Thomas has been public-spirited to a
high degree. Xo ninvenient for the good of his
cdniniunity ever >(.-ek> hi> aid in vain. He was
instnmiental in getting (ithers to come to this
country and all are loud in their praises of hav-
ing been induced to cast their lot in a com-
munity that is excelled by no other portion of
Nebraska.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has been
blessed with the birth of five children : Anna
Katrina. who was born in Germany, died in
childhood ; Christian Henry, the first white
child born in Dutch Flats, who is now operat-
ing a sheep ranch in Wyoming; Gottfried and
Gustav Adolph, who are managing their
father's rice plantation in Arkansas ; and Carl,
who is a successful farmer near the home place.
Mr. Thomas is independent in politics and
has served his district as school director and
road overseer. The family are members of the
Presbyterian church.
\\'hile he has been successful and acquired a
large amount of this world's goods, he has not
been remiss in any duty of citizenship and
wherever known has a host of friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas relate many interest-
ing experiences of the early days. The second
year they had twenty-five acres of wheat and
the market price was forty cents a bushel at
Alliance, sixty-five miles away. They brought
a supply of money with them from Germany
and it looked odd to them to see people pick up
bones on the prairie and haul them to Alliance
and sell them for $6 to $10 per ton. But Mr.
Thomas was glad to do that when his money
had been invested and he needed cash. Mrs.
Thomas has pillows made from feathers picked
from wild geese more than thirty years ago.
They ground wheat in a coffee mill and made
bread. Once when vieing with a neighbor to
see who could make a pound of coffee last the
longer, Mrs. Thomas made a pound last six
weeks, but it was not very good cotTee.
CHARLES H. IRION. — Among the pros-
pering citizens of Scottsbluff are many men of
high personal standing and wide business ex-
perience and one of these, whose life story is
very interesting to follow, is Charles H. Irion,
who for a number of years has been extensive-
ly engaged in handling choice real estate here
and all over the country. Mr. Irion was born
in McLean countv. Illinois, May 8, 1860, the
58
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
son of John and Susan (Osborn) Irion, who
still survive ad live at Miles City, Montana.
The father was bom in Germany and the
mother in Kentucky. They were married at
Jacksonville, Illinois, and eleven children were
born to them, Charles H. being the eldest of
the family. The others were: Edward, a
stockman in Montana; William, in the horse
business in Montana ; John, operates a ranch
in Montana ; Lewis, in the stock business in
the same state; Sadie, the wife of Jack Mett-
lin, a retired farmer at Alliance, Nebraska ;
Maggie, the wife of Mr. Kelley, a sheepman in
Montana; Albert J., who has been a govern-
ment horse buyer, has a ranch in Montana;
Ray and Farber, both of whom are in the stock
business in Montana, and one child deceased.
The parents are members of the Christian
church. In politics the father is a Republican.
He is a man of education and is particularly
well posted in history. In 1877 he moved
from Illinois to Arkansas, where he remained
but a short time, returning then to Illinois but
shortly afterward he moved to Iowa and then
to Missouri and Nebraska from there to Mon-
tana in 1899. He has been a farmer and
stockman all his life.
Ahhough Charles H. Irion was an unusual-
ly intelligent boy, he had very little encourage-
ment in the way of education after the family
moved to Iowa. His first work away from
home was a season spent as a harvest hand in
Missouri. He then found an employer in
Minnesota, who consented that he could at-
tend school and work for his board and
clothes, and it was in this way that Mr. Irion
secured a teacher's certificate and taught his
first school at New Richland, Minnesota, in
the meantime he put in a crop, on some rented
land, that turned out well financially. He was
able to take some money back home with him
when he joined his parents at Oregon, Mis-
souri, to which place the family had moved in
1883. He bought an interest in his father's
team, put in a crop with his father and after
it matured and he had paid his debt, he vet
had $180 in cash. On March 16, 1885, the
entire family started westward, with three
teams but all of the horses were old and worn
out animals, however they managed to haul the
wagons into Nebraska, and on April 15, 1885,
the family camped near running water and
Mr. Irion took a claim on land in Box Butte
county, three of his brothers and his father
also taking claims. They had nothing, how-
ever with which to carry on either farm or
domestic life. Mr. Irion tells of how he
started for Camp Clark in order to get flour
having about $80 by that time to buy neces-
sities with. A blizzard set in, through which
he drove all one day and had to pay $2 to cross
the river on the bridge. On the home trip,
when within a half mile of the cabin, the
horses gave out and he turned them loose and
walked the rest of the way, having been ab-
sent two days.
For a number of years Mr. Irion broke
prairie for other settlers for a living, also did
freighting and has seen great herds of deer,
antelope and buffalo on the then, open
prairies. His father made the necessary im-
provements on the different claims while his
son was away. On his pre-emption land he
had to pay $1.25 an acre, then borrowed $500
on the place and with a small capital he had,
bought cattle and afterward started a little
store at Lawn, Nebraska, which he conducted
until 1895, in the meanwhile securing a post-
office under the name of Belle, of which he
was postmaster for four years. He then sold
his interests there and moved to jNIarsland,
Nebraska, where he bought a store building
for $100 and a residence for $150 and went
into business. He prospered there and re-
mained until 1902 whon he sold his property,
bought three hundred head of steers and a
ranch in Sioux county, later purchased more
cattle and the whole investment has proved
very profitable. In 1903 he came to Scotts-
bluft' and rented the Emery hotel, which he
operated advantageously for three years. In
1911 he embarked in the real estate business
and today has an extensive business all over
the country, making a specialty of ranch prop-
erties.
In 1893 Mr. Irion married Miss Ada M.
Lane, who was born at Hale, Iowa, a daughter
of L. F. Lane. Four children were born to
Mr. and Mrs. Irion: Lettie R., the wife of J.
Newton Hughes, of Scottsbluff; Archie R.,
born April 25, 1897; and Charles and Donald,
both of whom are in school. The eldest son,
Archie R. Irion, brought the dreaded yet preci-
ous "gold star" into the family, for he met a
soldier's death on the soil of France. He en-
tered the service of his country in April, 1917,
left home in June for Omaha, on June 16,
went to Deming, New Mexico, where he com-
pleted his military training and by July 17 had
reached France as a member of the American
Expeditionary Force. He belonged to Battery
B One Hundred and nineteenth artillery, in
which he was a sergeant. He was wounded
September 29, 1918, and his brave spirit pass-
ed away November 11, 1918. His name be-
longs on Nebraska's Roll of Honor.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
59
Mr. Irion and his family are members of
the Presbyterian church. He has always been
a Republican and has known many of the
party leaders who have maintained its prin-
ciples through stormy times, but has been un-
willing to accept political office, believing he
could be more effective as a loyal, law-abid-
ing private citizen.
JAMES D. SHAW, who is a reputable
business man of Scottsbluff, whose experience
has been gained in several lines of effort, has
made his home at Scottsbluff for a number of
years and since April. 1915. has been in the
automobile and garage business. He has a
wide acquaintance and a host of business as
well as personal friends.
James D. Shaw was born at Baresville,
Ohio, January 18. 1882, and is a son of Rich-
ard and Elizabeth Shaw. He has one sister
and one brother, namely : Delilah Ann, who
is the wife of A. F. Petersen, a farmer and
rancher of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota ; and
William M., who is a farmer and feeder near
Seward, Nebraska. The father of Mr. Shaw
served four years in an Ohio regiment in the
Civil War, during which time he was thrice
captured by the enemy, made two escapes and
once was exchanged. He died in Ohio in
1882. In 1889 the mother of Mr. Shaw re-
moved with her children to Omaha, Nebraska,
and still lives there. She is a member of the
First Christian church of that city.
In the graded schools of Omaha, James D.
Shaw received educational training. The first
money he earned was by working on a farm
near Omaha. Aftenvard he entered the em-
ploy of M. C. Peters Mill Company, for
whom he traveled for seven years selling al-
falfa feeds, visiting Iowa, Missouri, Illinois,
Indiana, Idaho and Wyoming. He then lo-
cated at Scottsbluff and went into the hay
business, buying hay all through the Platte
valley. In the meanwhile he became inter-
ested in the automobile business and embarked
in the same with Mr. McCain, in April, 1915.
The firm handles the Overland and Willys-
Knight cars and the Republic trucks and does
a large business.
On June 24. 1908, Mr. Shaw was united in
marriage to Miss Cynthia Ellen Raymond,
who was born at Florence, Nebraska, and is a
daughter of H. S. Raymond, who is a fruit-
grower near Omaha. Airs. Shaw is a member
of the Episcopal church at Scottsbluff, while
Mr. Shaw belongs to the First Christian
church at Omaha. Like his father before him,
Mr. Shaw is a Republican in politics. As a
citizen and as a business man he stands high
in public regard.
CLARENCE E. BOGGS, who has led an
active business life ever since completing his
education, is a young man of business de-
pendability, social standing and personal up-
rightness. He is one of the younger circle of
business men of Scottsbluff, and is president
and general manager of the Scottsbluff' Mill-
ing Company.
Mr. Boggs is a native of Illinois, born at
Havana, in Mason county, August 8. 1877, a
son of James W. and Elizabeth C. (Caldwell)
Boggs. who had three other children, namely:
James W., who was in the first draft for serv-
ice in the great war, was with an engineering
corps in the American Expeditionary Force
that went to France in Octoljer, 1917, now re-
sides at Lincoln, Nebraska ; Charlotte Rose,
who resides with her father at Lincoln ; and
Allen M., who is now at home, was in a
soldiers' training camp at Fort Worth, when
the great war closed. The father was bom in
Ohio and the mother in Illinois, and they were
married at Crete, Nebraska. Her death occur-
red at Lincoln in 1909. In politics the father
is a Republican and for thirty-four years was
deputy county treasurer of Lancaster county
He came to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1879 and
for a number of years was in the insurance
business. He is a member of the Unitarian
church, and belongs to the Odd Fellows.
After completing the high school course at
Lincoln and being graduated in 1898, Clarence
E. Boggs spent two years in the state uni-
versity. Immediately afterward he went into
the towel supply business at Lincoln, in v.fhich
he continued for eighteen years and then en-
gaged in the milling business. In October,
1917, Mr. Boggs came to Scottsbluff and or-
ganized the Scottsbluff Milling Company,
which is an incorporated concern, capitalized
at $25,000, and since then has given his main
attention to the development of his business.
The selling territory is all through the Platte
Valley and the business is very prosperous.
In 1902 Mr. Boggs was united in marriage
to Miss Cora M. McGrew, who was born at
Lincoln, and they have three children : Alice,
Barbara and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Boggs
are members of the Presbyterian church. Po-
litically he is a Republican, but in no sense
is he a politician, just a good, reliable, earnest
and law supporting citizen.
GEORGE W. STOCKWELL. who has
charge of the battery and electrical business
60
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
for himself at Scottsbluff, has had considerable
electrical experience and is considered an ex-
pert in his line of work. Mr. Stockwell was
born in Dawson countv. Nebraska, November
22. 1889.
The parents of Mr. Stockwell are Frank E.
and Emily Kate (Adams) Stockwell. who now
are esteemed residents of Wilder. Idaho. The
father was born in Iowa and the mother in
Missouri. They were married at Loup City,
Nebraska, and their children are : Edna, the
wife of Leo Rengler, a merchant at Overton,
Nebraska; George W., resides at Scottsbluff;
Ray, foreman of the H. Gilchrist ranch in
Montana ; James, lives at Bayard, Nebraska,
where he is assistant cashier of a bank ; and
Herman, lives at Wilder, Idaho. Frank E.
Stockwell came to Sweetwater, Nebraska, in
1876, where he followed farming for a time,
then homesteaded in Dawson county and re-
mained for twenty-three years. He has always
been a foresighted business man and that took
him to Grand Island, where he profitably en-
gaged in the horse business for four years and
then returned to Dawson county, but soon af-
terward bought a store at Paxton, in Keith
county, which he operated for four years. Mr.
Stockwell also conducted a store at Beard for
a while, then moved to Wheatland, Wyoming,
and from there to Wilder, Idaho, where he
owns a productive fruit farm. He belongs to
the Odd Fellows and the United Workmen.
George W. Stockwell was educated at Over-
ton, Nebraska, where he was graduated from
the high school, then learned the telephone
business and followed that for ten years, be-
ing engaged at] different points. In 1916 he
came to Scottsbluff to work in the battery
department of the automobile business of Mc-
Cain & Shaw, and now has full charge as
mentioned above.
In January. 1915, Mr. Stockwell was united
in marriage to Miss Pauline Dilla, who was
born in Missouri, and they have two children,
Elaine and Wayne. Mrs. Stockwell is a mem-
ber of the Catholic church, but Mr. Stock-
well was reared in the Methodist Episcopal
church by his mother. In party politics he
maintains an independent attitude.
JAMES M. CARR, who has been identified
with the lumber industry at Scottsbluff for
almost twenty years, is a native of Nebraska,
born in 1875 at Lexington, in Dawson county,
and has practically spent his entire life in the
state. Mr. Carr bears a name that has long
been held in high repute in business circles,
his father having been active and successful
in this section for many years. Mr. Carr is
secretary and outside manager of the Carr &
Neft' Lumber Company of Scottsbluff.
The parents of Mr. Carr are James P. and
Ada M. (Martin) Carr, the former of whom
was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in
Ohio. They were married at Lexington, Ne-
braska, where they now reside. They have
had two children : James M. and J. C. The
latter is in the stock business at Lexington.
James P. Carr came to Nebraska in 1872 and
homesteaded in Dawson county and still owns
the old place. Later he engaged in the mer-
cantile business, in which he continued until
1893, when he sold out and since then has de-
voted himself to looking after numerous busi-
ness interests in which he has investments, one
of these being the Carr & Neff Lumber Com-
pany of Scottsbluff, of which he is president.
Since coming to Nebraska he has built up his
entire fortune, natural business capacity com-
bining with generous opportunity, and he now
is one of the substantial men of this section.
James M. Carr attended the Lexington pub-
lic schools and was graduated from the high
school in 1893, after which he spent one year
in the Lincoln normal school. Mr. Carr en-
tered business as a clerk in a general store
and continued with his first employer for sev-
en years. In 1900 he came to Scottsbluff and
embarked in the lumber business with a part-
ner under the style of Carr & Neft', which has
since been changed to the Carr & Neff Lumber
Company. In addition to acting as secretary
of the company, Mr. Carr attends to the out-
side yards and business details.
In 1903 Mr. Carr was united in marriage to
Miss Ada Johnston, a daughter of G. S. John-
ston, a farmer near Lexington, and they have
one daughter, Dorothy, attending school. Mr.
and Mrs. Carr belong to the Presbyterian
church. He is a good citizen but is identified
with no particular political party.
CHARLES M. MATHENY, who is en-
titled to affix a number of letters to his name,
indicating high scholarship, has practically
spent his life in the school room and has high
standing as an educator in Nebraska as well
as in his native Ohio. For seven years he has
been superintendent of the Scottsbluff schools.
Charles M. Matheny was born at Athens,
Ohio, January 6, 1874. His parents were
Rev. L. G. and Hannah (Martin) Matheny,
the former of whom was born in Ohio and
the latter in New Jersey. The mother of
Professor Matheny died in April, 1914. Her
father, William Martin, was born in Ireland,
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Pickett
f
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
61
came from there to the United States and set-
tled first in New Jersey but later moved to
Athens, Ohio, where he died. On the paternal
side the ancestry is French. The paternal
grandfather, Isaac Matheny, was born in Ohio.
His parents came from France, as Huguenot
refugees, and settled at first in Virginia but
later moved to Ohio and established the home
in which L. G. Matheny was born and reared.
He entered military service in the beginning
of the Civil War, in which he served four
years, was lieutenant of company I in an Ohio
regiment that took part in the memorable
struggles at Memphis, Shiloh and Vicksburg.
Later he became a minister in the Methodist
Episcopal church and since retiring from ac-
tive church work has carried on a fire insurance
business at Nelsonville, Ohio. Of his seven
children, Charles M. is the eldest of the sur-
vivors, the others being: William, in the em-
ploy of the General Electric Company at St.
Louis, Missouri ; Harry, employed as an in-
spector by the Hupmobile Company, at De-
troit, Michigan; Gertrude, the wife of W. A.
Pride, a dental practitioner at Gloscester,
Ohio ; Luella, head saleswoman in a wholesale
millineiy house at Detroit ; and Marie, private
secretary for an attorney at Cleveland, Ohio.
Following his graduation in 1889, from the
Beverly, Ohio, high school, Charles M. Ma-
theny began to teach school and thereby earn-
ed his way through college, his method be-
ing to teach during the winter season and en-
ter school in the spring. Thus he paid his
way through the Ohio University at Athens,
between 1894 and his graduation in 1900, with
the degree of B. Ped. For two years he was
superintendent of the schools of Coolville,
Ohio, for three years was principal of the
public schools of Athens, for three years af-
terward taught mathematics at Circleville, and
in 1908 was ofifered a fellowship in Ameri-
can history and political science, at Columbus,
Ohio, receiving his Master's degree in 1909.
For three years before coming to Nebraska,
he was principal of the schools of Defiance,
Ohio, and afterward, for two years was
school superintendent at Emerson, in Dixon
county, Nebraska. He came then to Scotts-
bluff and took over the superintendence of the
city schools. At the present time he has
heavy responsibilities, having charge of nine
school buildings, 51 teachers and 1,562 pupils.
Supt. Matheny is a man of progressive ideas
and many modem innovations have been plan-
ned and accepted by him for the benefit of the
school service. He has a capable trained
nurse inspect the pupils twice each week. He
has done much to raise the standard of schol-
arship and gives encouragement to various
school movements designed to arouse ambi-
tion and emulation.
In 1898, Professor Matheny was united in
marriage to Miss Lolo Wiley, who was born
at Guysville, Ohio, her father, A. P. Wiley,
being a substantial farmer and stockman and
a veteran of the Civil War. Mrs. Matheny is
a highly educated lady, a teacher, and much
interested in higher education. They have
one son. H. Claire, who was born August 1,
1901. At present he is attending the Univer-
sity of Colorado. The family belong to the
Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, like
his honored father, Mr. Matheny is a Republi-
can. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity
and is a member of the Eastern Star order.
DICK PICKETT, one of the leading and
progressive business men of Scottsbluff, who
has been and is playing an important part in
the development of this western section of the
state, is the e.xponent of what ability and deter-
mination may do. There are numerous in-
stances in western Nebraska where men have
arrived in the Panhandle without acquaint-
ances or friends and have worked their way to
afi^luence and position, but there are few which
equal the record of the man whose name heads
this review. He has been the architect of his
comfortable fortune and has the pride of
knowing that it has been by his own unaided
efforts that his present competency has been
accunndated through honest business methods
and his own hard work. His ability, given the
opportunity finally to evince itself, has placed
him in an enviable position, for today Mr.
Pickett is accounted one of the leading citizens
of Scottsbluff' and the surrounding commercial
district.
Dick Pickett was born in Perry county, In-
diana, January 3. 1859, the son of James H.
and Maryanna ( Evett ) Pickett. The father
was a Hoosier h^• birth, was reared and edu-
cated in his n.Lti\i- siatc, where he received his
educational adx :mt,i,-f- in the public schools,
and after attainuig manhood's estate, engaged
in the business with which he had become
familiar in his early youth, agricultural indus-
try, and was accounted one of the best farmers
and successful stockmen of that section and
time. Maryanna (Evett) Pickett was born
in Ireland, and accompanied her parents to
America when she was a young girl of thir-
teen years. After reaching the United States
the family located in Indiana, where she grew
to womanhood, was educated, and there met
and married her future husband. She was a
62
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
loving wife and devoted mother and lived to
see all her children well started in life before
she was called by the Grim Reaper to her last
rest in her forty-fifth year. In 1893, James
Pickett left his old home in Indiana and came
west, locating at Ravenna, Nebraska, about
three years, then to Springfield, Missouri,
where he died. He lived to be eighty years old.
He enlisted in 1861 in Company H, Twenty-
third Indiana Regiment and served three years,
also three of his sons, all in same regiment and
company.
Dick Pickett was reared on his father's farm
in Indiana; attended the public school nearest
his home and grew up enured to the invigorat-
ing but strict discipline of farm life. He early
learned all the practical methods of farming
and such stock raising as was conducted in
Indiana, where he engaged in business when
old enough to conduct his own affairs. He was
an ambitious youth, read of the many advan-
tages aiiforded a man willing to hazard his for-
tunes in the newer country west of the Mis-
souri river, and while still a young man deter-
mined to strike out from the old and more
thickly settled districts for the west, which has
ever had a lure for the youth of this broad
land. In 1883, he came to Nebraska and set-
tled in Buffalo county on a farm which he cul-
tivated for seventeen j-ears, bringing the soil
up to a high state of fertility, making perma-
nent improvements in the way of buildings,
and becoming one of the well-to-do farmers of
that section. In 1900 ^Ir. Pickett sold his first
farm in Nebraska and purchased a better loca-
tion in the vicinity of Hershey, but he was
wide-awake, kept abreast of all agricultural
questions of the day, and with a keen, far
vision soon realized that the great future of the
agriculturist lay in that section where a man
was not dependent upon the rainfall which in
this semi-arid country made farming rat'.ier a
gamble than an assured commercial enterprise,
and selling his holdings he came to Scottsbluff
county to take advantage of the irrigation
projects, both private and government, for he
knew that the soil was fertile enough provided
water could be had in proper quantity and at
just the proper growing season. Mr. Pickett
purchased twenty acres of land just east of the
city of Scottsbluff, but within the corporation
limits, and an eighty-acre tract a mile north of
town. He has raised feed and engaged ex-
tensively in buying western cattle, feeding them
to fatten for the market and then shipped to
the big packing centers of Kansas and Ne-
braska, and along this line has met with grati-
fying success as he is a skilled buyer, a good
manager and hard worker, a combination that
must bring good results in business when a
man devotes his energies and abilities to a
desired end. In politics Mr. Pickett is a
staunch adherent of the Democratic party,
though he does not draw strict party lines in
mere local elections, as he is broad-minded
enough and has the affairs of his community so
at heart that he desires to throw his influence
to the best man fitted to serve the people. Fra-
ternally he is allied with the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows and with his family is a mem-
ber of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Pickett
has not been remiss in any duty of citizenship
and is today regarded as one of the progressive
and influential men of Scottsbluff, and his suc-
cess is well merited.
On November 3, 1886, Mr. Pickett married
Miss Lizzie Herbaugh, in Buffalo county, Ne-
braska. She was born in Indiana but came to
Nebraska with her parents when a child and
was reared and educated in this state, so may
almost be regarded as a native daughter. Her
father, John Herbaugh, was also a Hoosier by
birth, reared and educated in that state, and
after attaining manhood, established himself
independently in business as a farmer. In-
diana was well settled up at that time and land
was high, so he decided to take advantage of
the fine offers of land given by the homestead
plan in the west, and in 1873 he came to Ne-
braska, locating on a claim in Buffalo county,
and thus he became one of the hardy, sturdy,
brave pioneers of the middle west. The family
passed through all the hardships and privations
that settlers had to contend with, but they were
not discouraged by blizzards or droughts, and
lived here to see their faith in this great, wide,
open country justified. ]\Ir. Herbaugh, invig-
orated by his strenuous life, was a hearty old
man who lived to be seventy-three years old.
He served three years in the Rebellion. Rachel
Ann Crawford Herbaugh was born and bred
in Indiana, where she received her education
and after her schooling was over, met and mar-
ried John Herbaugh, accompanied him to the
new home in the west, and was a loving wife
and faithful helpmate during all the trying
years they spent on the frontier, establishing a
home and winning a comfortable fortune be-
fore the sunset years of life overtook them.
Mrs. Herbaugh passed away in her sixty-sixth
}'ear. They had a family of ten robust children
and lived to see them become capable, upstand-
ing, lionorable men and women.
Mr. and Mrs. Pickett have been blessed with
ten children, of whom eight survive: James M.,
of Glendo, ^Vyoming, a farmer owning his
own homestead, who during the World War
served in the Coast Defense Artillery at San
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
63
Francisco and also in the Fortieth Coast Artil-
lery, receiving his honorable discharge Decem-
ber 23, 1918: Mrs. \'erdie R. Roseman. of
Torrington. Wyoming, ha^ twd children: Wil-
liam O., of Glend.i, WyMniing; John C, of
Scottsblufif, who also served in the Coast De-
fense Artillery in San Francisco, being later
transferred to the Forty-first Coast Artillery
at Fortress Monroe, is now a student at the
University of Nebraska, at Lincoln; ^^'illard,
deceased ; Dorsey M., Theodore, Ivedell, Rich-
ard, and Raymond, all of whom are still at
home with their parents, who intend to give
each child every educational advantage afford-
ed in the city and state that they may be well
equipped to start out in life.
CLYDE L. HARRISON, a representative
business man of Scottsbluff, who is doing a
large business as contractor and builder, was
born at Greenfield, Iowa, February 10, 1880,
and has been a resident of Scottsbluff for sev-
enteen years.
The parents of Mr. Harrison are John J.
and Clara E. (Rice) Harrison, both of whom
survive. The father came to Iowa in young
manhood and served three years in the Civil
War as a member of company C Twenty-third
Iowa infantry. He was a daring soldier and
in one of the big battles was so seriously
wounded that he had to be placed in a hospi-
tal and later was honorably discharged. He
was a carpenter and contractor before the
war. He now resides in the Soldiers' Home
at Leavenworth, Kansas, while the mother is
a resident of Ainsley, Nebraska. Of their
nine children seven survive and four of these
live in Nebraska, three other sons besides
Clyde L., namely : Worley M., who is a resi-
dent of Gordon ; Orien A., who lives at Ain-
sley; and E. Lee, who is in the contracting
business at Scottsbluff. In politics the father
is a Republican, and both parents are members
of the Presbyterian church.
Clyde L. Harrison obtained his education
in the public schools in Nebraska. He learned
the carpenter trade and after locating at
Scottsbluff' in, 1902, was, for years, engaged
in more housebuilding than any other builder
and contractor in this city. In 1918 he opened
his garage, where a general automobile repair
business was carried on, and he handled the
King and Oldsmobile cars. This business he
sold out in the spring of 1919.
In 1903 Mr. Harrison was united in mar-
riage to Miss Amy B. Fink, who was born at
Seward, Nebraska, and they have the follow-
ing named children: Velma Gertrude, Ivan
Ray, Clyde. Helen Ruth and Howard Sheldon,
the older children being in school. Mr. and
Mrs. Harrison are members of the Presby-
terian church, in which he is an elder and
member of the board of trustees. Men of
Mr. Harrison sturdy character are not apt to
be unduly active in politics with a view to se-
curing pubhc office, but he is a faithful, ernest
citizen and conscientiously supports the prin-
ciples of the Republican party.
JOHN W. MONTZ. whose business enter-
prise and natural adaptability have placed him
among the successful men in the automobile
industry at Scottsbluff, is one of Nebraska's
own sons, born at Harrisburg, August 5, 1891.
With him in conducting the garage is his
brother. Martin R. Montz, and an extensive
business is done.
The parents of Mr. Montz are Martin and
Gertrude (Simon) Montz, the former of
whom was born in Steuben county. New York,
July 20. 1858, and the latter in DeKalb county,
Missouri. They were married December 30,
1880, at Cameron, Missouri, and six children
have been born to them: Elizabeth Matilda,
the wife of J. R. Naird, a farmer and stock-
man in Sioux county, Nebraska ; Lebanna and
Martie R., twins, the former of whom lives
at Alberta, nine miles north of Scottsbluff,
and the latter of whom is in the garage busi-
ness at Scottsbluff; Gertrude Malissa, the wife
of John Burnstock, a railroad man of Bridge-
port. Nebraska ; John William, of Scottsbluff ;
and Verna Ruth, an accomplished stenograph-
er. The parents are members of the Christian
church. Politically the father is an indepen-
dent voter, and he belongs to the order of Unit-
ed Workmen. He came to Nebraska in the
spring of 1884 and in 1886 homesteaded in
Banner county, where he engaged in farming
for several years. Later he came to Scotts-
bluff and for a number of years was in the
meat market business. He now assists in the
garage owned by his sons. He is well known
and much respected.
John W. Montz remained at Harrisburg,
where he attended school until 1900, then
worked on a" farm near Scottsbluff and as a
stockman for a while. About 1910 he em-
barked in an automobile livery business at
Scottsbluff', which he conducted for four
years, then worked as a mechanic in a garage
until he had leamed the business in every de-
tail, including the mechanism of every type of
automobile. In 1918 he opened his own gar-
age and since then has devoted himself closely
to his business with satisfactory results. On
64
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
December 4, 1913, he was united in marriage
to Miss Bertha May Klingman, and they have
one daughter, Loraine Genevieve. He is inde-
pendent in his political views but no one
doubts his good citizenship.
MARTIE R. MONTZ, who is well-known
in the garage business at Scottsbluff, in asso-
ciation with his brother, John W. Montz, was
born in !\Iissouri, February 7, 1884. He is one
of a family of six children born to Martin
and Gertrude (Simon) Montz, the former of
whom was born in Steuben county. New York,
and the latter in Missouri, in which latter state
they were married.
The parents of Mr. Montz came to Nebras-
ka in the spring of 1884, when he was but an
infant. His father homesteaded in Banner
county in 1886 and his early years were spent
on the home farm but he attended school at
Harrisburg. Mr. Montz then went farther
west and for fifteen years rode range in Mon-
tana, South Dakota and Idaho as well as Ne-
braska, meeting with many thrilling adven-
tures during that time. In 1917 he located at
Scottsbluff and went into business with his
brother, and a large business connection has
been built up. The partners are practical
men, both have had solid experience and the
public has confidence in them.
Mr. Montz was married on December 25,
1918. to Miss Sylvia Folden. While inter-
ested and well posted on public affairs, Mr.
Montz like his father has always preferred to
be an independent voter.
GEORGE F. KIMBROUGH. — There are
few men in the automobile business at Scotts-
bluff who have advanced to the front in this
line more rapidly or substantially than G€orge
F. Kimbrough, and not always do men of col-
legiate training and professional prestige, find
equal success in the practical field of business.
Mr. Kimbrough is the owner of the. Scotts-
bluff plant of the Platte Valley Motor Com-
pany, and also owns the Bayard Motor Com-
pany.
George F. Kimbrough was born at Denver,
Colorado, October 18, 1887, the second in a
family of three children born to James W.
and Norah (White) Kimbrough. The other
members of the family are : James T., who is
a railroad man, of Denver; and Corinne, who
is the wife of Stephen M. Hall, a stockman
of Denver county. The mother of the above
family was born at Bellefontaine. Ohio, April
18, 1859, and the father at Carthage, Illinois,
December 7, 1849. He came to Denver in
1878, was married at Denver, and for years
has been a railroad man, at present being one
of the older conductors on the Colorado &
Southern line. He is a Democrat in his po-
litical views and belongs to the Masonic fra-
ternity.
With his graduation from the high school
in 1907, George F. Kimbrough completed the
entire public school course at Denver, and in
1912 graduated from the law department of
the Colorado State University with his LL.B.
degree, during his college life being a member
of the Phi Delta Thefa and the Phi Delta Phi
Greek letter fraternities. He was admitted to
the bar in the same year and engaged in the
practice of law with the firm of Macbeth &
May, of Denver, for four years. Mr. Kim-
brough then became interested in the auto-
mobile business and accepted the office of
secretary of the Sharman Automobile Com-
pany, with which concern he remained eigh-
teen months and then took charge of the
Scottsbluff branch of the Platte Valley Motor
Company, in which he bought a one-half inter-
est in April, 1918, and the remaining interest
in January, 1919, and also became owner of
the Bayard Motor Company as mentioned
above. Mr. Kimbrough handles Ford cars
and Fordson tractors exclusively. His sale
field is all through the Platte Valley where
these cars and tractors are very satisfactory.
On June 24, 1914, Mr. Kimbrough was
united in marriage to Miss Helen Ryals, who
was born at Macon, Georgia, and they have a
daughter, who was born April 19, 1919. He
belongs to Union Lodge No. 7, A. F. & A. M. ;
Denver Chapter No. 2 R. A M.. and Colorado
Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar and El
Jebel Temple Shriners. He is not affiliated
with any political party but is a watchful
citizen nevertheless and casts a careful, well
considered vote according to his own free
judgment.
FRANK B. DE CONLY. — One of the in-
teresting men of Scottsbluff is found in Frank
B. De Conly, vice president of the Scottsbluff
Live-Stock Commission Company, and of oth-
er important business enterprises, not only be-
cause of his pleasing personality, but on ac-
count of the fact that he has built up a sub-
stantial fortune, entirely through his own ef-
forts in the comparatively short time since he
reached manhood. He was bom in Custer
county, Nebraska, in 1888.
The parents of Mr. De Conly, Frank and
Mar)' E. ( Ellington ) De Conly, reside at Hast-
ings, Nebraska. The father was bom in Penn-
J\Irs. Elijah iMcCLKXAiiAX
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
65
sylvania and the mother in Virginia and their
marriage took place at Plum Creek, Nebras-
ka. Of their five children the following are
living: Emma, who is the wife of Charles
Godby, of McCook, Nebraska ; Edwin, who is
a printer, lives at Scottsbluff ; Florence, who is
the wife of Harry Fiest, lives in Colorado ;
and Frank B., who is so widely and favorably
known in the Panhandle. The father, a print-
er by trade, came to Nebraska in the seventies
and settled first in Dawson county, where he
worked in a mill and on a ranch before moving
to Custer county where he homesteaded. He is
a Democrat in politics, is a Knight of Pythias,
and both he and wife belong to the Episcopal
church.
Frank B. De Conly attended the Callaway
public schools and the Lexington high school,
after which he went to work for the Union
Pacific Railway at Callaway, where he remain-
ed fourteen months. He then spent five
months at Hastings in the paint shop of Haines
Brothers, and seven months for the Burling-
ton Railroad as checker. He then went into
the incubator factory of the M. M. Johnson
Company, later becoming an office man there
and remaining eight years. In the meanwhile,
from being an enthusiastic baseball player for
recreation, he became an expert in the nation-
al game, and for seven years played profes-
sional baseball as third baseman in the State
League and the Tri-State League. In this con-
nection he is remembered admiringly all over
the country. In 1912 Mr. De Conly came to
Scottsblufif and embarked in the real estate
business and in the fall of that year went into
the stock business. He now has three large
farms, his main activities being feeding cattle
and sheep, his record showing that in one year
alone he fed 10,400 head of sheep, and each
year ranges from 3,000 to 10,000, and from
500 to 1.000 cattle. He has demonstrated
great business capacity, has invested wisely
and at present is identified with a number of
prospering business concerns. In addition to
being vice president of the Scottsblutif Live-
stock Company, he is vice president of the
Fisher Grocery Company, and owns one-third
of the company stock and one-fourth of the
livestock, in the former organization. He
owns three hundred and forty acres, of fine
land.
In 1910 Mr. De Conly was united in mar-
riage to Miss Neva Wyman Palmer, who was
born in Seward county, Nebraska, and is a
daughter of David B. Palmer, a heavy stock-
man and leading citizen of Seward county.
Mr. and Mrs. De Conly have one son who has
about reached the engaging age of two years
and bears his maternal grandfather's honored
name. Mr. De Conly is a vestryman in the
Episcopal church at Scottsbluff. He is an in-
dependent in his political opinions but is a
very active and influential citizen in all matters
pertaining to the progress of Scottsbluff. Dur-
ing the two years of his service as a member
of the city council, he was president of that
body the entire time. He is a Scottish Rite
Mason and a Shriner. He has never lost in-
terest in manly sports and is a member of
the Athletic Club at Omaha.
ELIJAH McCLENAHAN. pioneer in irri-
gation, farmer and financier, who is now num-
bered among the substantial business men of
Scottsbluff, has been the architect of his own
fortune, and having based his life's structure
on firm, substantial foundations, has builded
soundly and well. When he entered upon his
career he was possessed of little save inherent
ability, great ambition and the determination to
succeed, and these have been sufficient, through
their development, to enable him to become a
large landholder, progressive farmer, and man
of finance in a well-to-do community that does
not lack for able and successful men of enter-
prise and progress.
Elijah AlcClenahan was born in Keokuk
county, Iowa, October 26, 1866, the son of
Elijah and Elizabeth (Wilson) McClenahan,
the former a native of the famous state of
Kentucky, who settled in Illinois at a very
early date at the time when the government
was having difficulties with the Indians over
their refusal to give up the lands they had
ceded to the United States under a promise of
removing west of the Mississippi river. Mr.
McClenahan (senior ) was one of the men who
helped build a log fort in Stark county when
Black Hawk and" his band went on the war-
path with the idea of driving the whites out of
their territory, and forts were necessary in
various localities where the whites could gather
for protection against their Indian foes, -who
crept stealthily upon the outlying settlements
ancl murdered the unsuspecting women and
children when the men were away or out in the
fields. After remaining in Illinois for some
years, Mr. McClenahan removed still farther
toward the frontier and settled in Keokuk
county, Iowa, where he engaged in agricultural
pursuits, passing away there in his seventy-
fifth year. Elizabeth Wilson McClenahan was
born in Ohio, where she spent her early child-
hood, receiving an excellent practical education
in the public schools of that state ; when a
young girl her parents removed to Iowa and
66
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
she accompanied them to the new home in the
west. In 1887, accompanied by her children,
she became a pioneer settler of the Panhandle,
settling on a homestead where the city of
Scottsbkiff now stands. She was a hale, hearty
woman, enured to the hardships and privations
through which she passed during the hard and
trying years of frontier life, but was thrifty,
willing to work, and of many good deeds, that
stood in number as the years of her life count-
ed by days. She was a devoted mother and it
was for the advantages that her children might
have that she located in this section at a time
when habitations were few, civilization in its
dawn on the high prairies, and privations
many, but she lived to see that her faith in this
section was justified, as she was over eighty
years of age before summoned to her last long
rest. She was a member of the Christian
church. Elijah was the second child in the
family and one of the seven who accompanied
his mother to western Nebraska. Andy J.,
who lives in Utah, was the oldest but Elijah
and Mrs. John Emery are the only members of
the family in Scottsbluff.
Elijah McClenahan spent his youthful years
in Iowa, where he received the educational ad-
vantages afforded by the excellent school sys-
tem of that state. He helped his parents on
the farm, thus at an early age becoming well
acquainted with the practical side of farm in-
dustry, as he early assumed what duties he was
capable of carrying on a pair of young shoul-
ders and what his growing strength permitted,
for there is always plenty for a boy to do on
a farm, from herding cattle to feeding stock
and driving team and plow. \Mien his mother
came west Elijah was a young man just past
his twenty-first birthday and he determined to
establish himself independently and took up a
homestead two miles west of the present site of
Scottsblufif. He proved up on the land, broke
the sod of the prairie for his early crops, and
when his capital allowed, made good and per-
manent improvements on the place in the way
of jt house and farm buildings. He engaged
in diversified farming and stock-raising and
during slack periods of farm work or when he
could get some other member of the family to
care for his stock, rode the range as a cowboy,
as that was the period when the great cattle
companies had vast herds on the plains and
required great cattle camps for their many men
who guarded and directed the manner in which
the cattle ranged in feeding. It was in this
way that he materially aided his financial re-
sources and at the same time gained an invalu-
able knowledge of the cattle business which
was of great use to him in his own business
enterprises when the cattle barons and their
monopolies were a thing of the past in the Pan-
handle and where once was range is now a
smiling countryside where the green crops
wave in the breeze with many a flourishing
village and town which are fine indications of
the prosperity of this section once known and
called the "Great American Desert." Mr. Mc-
Clenahan from his first coming to this section
had great faith in its agricultural possibilities :
he was determined that not only himself but
others should have the most that their lands
could produce. He was a man who kept
abreast of the times, the improvements in farm
methods and any project that would give a
great yield from the soil, so that it is not sur-
prising that he was one of the first to believe
in and advocate irrigation for the Platte valley.
The soil was fertile, the sunshine unfailing in
the high prairie country, all that was needed
to make this a garden spot was assured water,
and there was plent}^ of it in the river. The
problem lay in getting a sufficient quantity onto
the land. He was one of the projectors and
the first superintendent of the Winter Creek
irrigation ditch, the pioneer project in this sec-
tion. He helped not only materially but finan-
cially in the building of the ditch, being the
man who removed the first shovel of earth on
the construction work, it might be said he laid
the foundation stone for it. For fourteen years
he devoted a large part of his time and much
of his energy to the great and paramount ques-
tion of the Platte valley, will irrigation pay?
Pie kept a careful record of the amount of
water used in the Winter Creek district, the
number of acres it watered and the greater
yield per acre under ditch, and it was from his
careful and painstaking work, a report of
which was filed with the government that the
Reclamation Service decided to place Scotts-
blufif county under government reclamation,
which has been the making of the small land-
holder along the Platte. Later, Mr. McClen-
ahan was instrumental in the work of building
the r^Iitchell ditch and the Enterprise project,
which have so materially changed conditions of
farming and settlement in this vicinit}', and
have developed a semi-arid region into one of
the most beautiful and productive regions of
the great commonwealth of Nebraska. In
truth, "the desert now blossoms like the rose."
Inherited from his Blue Grass father, Mr.
McClenahan has had a fine taste for horses all
his life and when his capital permitted he in-
vested in some fine blooded stock, raising polo
ponies for the eastern market and high grade
riding horses. He also owned one of the fast-
est quarter milers of western Nebraska, "Ten-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
67
pins," who won many a race and was a source
of pride to his owner. However, this was but
a side-hne of the extensive business in which
Mr. McClenahan engaged, for, after the rail-
roads were built through Scottsbluff county, he
began to be one of the heavy and extensive
cattle feeders of this section. Buying in the
west he shipped here, fattened his stock and
then shipped to the big packing centers of east-
ern Nebraska and Kansas, a business which
proved most successful, due to his early ex-
periences in range cattle and his keen ability as
a buyer. Up to the time of Mrs. McClenahan's
death, Elijah lived with her, managing her
landed interests. He is now a partner with
Charles Beatty in a four hundred acre ranch
southeast of Minatare, which they are devoting
to diversified farming. Both men are progres-
sive in their ideas, have introduced modern
methods and use modern machinery and are
reaping tlie reward which justly comes to men
who devote time, brains and efifort to the busi-
ness in hand. Mr. Clenahan owns ten acres of
land in the southeastern part of ScottsbluliE
which he is arranging for an extensive cattle-
feeding yard, a project which has long been
needed in this section, of which Scottsblutif is
the center. In politics Mr. McClenahan is a
member of the Republican party, and though
he takes no active interest in the politics of the
state, is intensely interested in the men who
run for local office, believing that only good,
conscientious men should fill public positions.
On December 26, 1912, Mr. McClenahan mar-
ried Miss Nellie Boone, a Hoosier by birth, be-
ing reared and educated in her native state of
Indiana. She was the daughter of John and
Martha (Southerlin) Boone, both of whom
were born and reared on the Wabash river.
Mr. and Mrs. McClenahan have five children :
Pearl A., Merle E., Joseph A., and twins,
Nellie and Ellen, who have a bright future, as
their parents are determined that they all shall
have every social and educational advantage
afforded by the schools of the town and state
for the equipment of life's battle, which is
strenuous at best. Mr. and ]\Irs. McClenahan
are estimable people, who believe, advocate
and support every movement for the better-
ment of civic and communal life, and are held
in high esteem by their neighbors, fellow-
townsmen, and a large circle of friends.
WILLIAM P. HODNETT, M. D., who has
been engaged in medical practice at Scotts-
bluff for some years, is highly esteemed pro-
fessionally and is equally valued personally.
Dr. Hodnett was born at Danville, Virginia,
September 2, 1883. His parents, William P.
and Belle (Price) Hodnett, are natives of
Virginia and still live in the old home at Dan-
ville. The father of Dr. Hodnett is a man of
ample fortune, now practically retired. When
the Civil War closed he, like many other resi-
dents of the South, found it necessary to en-
tirely rebuild his fortunes and was entirely
successful. He owns valuable business prop-
erty at Danville. He is of high personal
standing there, has served in the city council
for many years, is a sturdy supporter of the
Democratic party and is a constistory Mason
and a Knight of Pythias. Both parents of
Dr. Hodnett are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He is the only one of their
seven children to establish a home in Nebras-
ka.
Dr. Hodnett was liberally educated. After
aJttending private schools he spent one year
in Randolph-Macon college, Ashland, Vir-
ginia ; two years, in the Virginia State Univer-
sity, and in 1912 was graduated from the
medical department of the University of Colo-
rado. After graduation he practiced for one
year in St. Luke's and Mercy hospitals, Den-
ver, then in the city of Denver and the mining
camps near Telluride, in San Miguel county,
Colorado. In the fall of 1916 Dr. Hodnett
came to Scottsbluff', finding a ready welcome
for a man of his professional ability, and con-
tinued alone until March, 1918, when he form-
ed a partnership with Dr. F. W. Plehn, the
firm being recognized as one of the ablest in
the city.
In i912 Dr. Hodnett was united in mar-
riage to Miss Eleanor Finley. of Denver. Colo-
rado, and they have two children ; William
Finley and Virginia Belle. Dr. Hodnett and
wife are members of the Presbyterian church
and take active part in social affairs. In poli-
tics he is a sound Democrat and for many
years he has been identified with the Masonic
fraternity. Dr. Hodnett belongs also to repre-
sentative medical organizations and occasion-
ally contributes to their literature.
D. T- POLLOCK, who is well-known
through the Platte Valley as a cattleman and
judge of stock, has been a resident of Scotts-
bluff for some years and is interested in dealing
in stock and also real estate. Mr. Pollock was
born in Union county, Iowa, December 29,
1860, and is a son of James P. and Eliza
(McVay) Pollock.
Mr. Pollock's father was bom m Knox
county, Ohio, a son of Samuel Pollock, a na-
tive of Scotland, and the mother in Greene
county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Vincent
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
McVay, who was also born in Scotland and
came in early manhood to the United States.
Both parents died in Iowa, the father when
aged eighty-seven and the mother sixty-eight
years. They had children as follows : W. V..
who resides at Gering. Nebraska, is a retired
farmer; D. J., who resides at Scottsbluff; J.
L., a resident and oflficeholder at Des Moines,
Iowa; R. M., of Earned, Kansas, is a travel-
ing salesman ; and one deceased. The father
was a fanner all his life. Both parents were
members of the Scotch Presbyterian church.
After his school period ended, Mr. Pollock
began to assist his father on the farm and has
been identified more or less with farm activi-
ties all his life. In 1916 he came to Scobts-
bluff county and settled on land near Scotts-
bluff that he had previously bought, and has
made raising thoroughbred stock the main
feature of his business since coming to the
upper valley. He raises Duroc hogs exten-
sively and has paid as high as $400 for a
thoroughbred boar.
On October 21, 1891, Mr. Pollock married
Miss Lillie B. Stalcup, who was born in Iowa
and died in that state February 26, 1913, the
mother of four children : Etha. connected with
a business house at Scottsbluff; Zaida, at
home ; Dorothy, a student in Doane college,
Crete, Nebraska ; and Howe, a mechanic for
the Page Motor Company. The family be-
longs to the Presbyterian church. In politics
Mr. Pollock is a Democrat, and while living in
Iowa, was the first of his political party to be
elected to the office of assessor of his district.
Mr. Pollock is held in high esteem as a man
of sterling character.
MATHEW J. HIGGINS. general merchant
at Scottsbluff, and an active, interested, public
spirited citizen, is a business man of long ex-
perience. He came to this city in 1913 and
founded the Golden Rule store, through hon-
orable methods and business integrity making
the name significant. He was born at Camden
New Jersey, November 4, 1879.
The parents of Mr. Higgins were M. J. and
Esther (Rodgers) Higgins, the latter of whom
was born and married in the city of Phila-
delphia, and now resides in Iowa. The father
of Mr. Higgins was born in Wilmington, Dela-
ware, and from that state enlisted for serv-
ice in the Civil War, entering company C,
Fifty-first Delaware infantry, in which he
served during the closing months of the war,
during that time contracting disease which
finally caused his death. After his marriage
he engaged in the hotel business at Phila-
delphia, in 1876 removing to Iowa, where he
was a merchant. He was a Republican in
politics and was a member of the Presbyterian
church. Of his seven children M. J. was the
third in order of birth, the others being:
Frank, in the grocery business at Malvern,
Iowa; William, in the employ of the Standard
Oil Company, at Malvern ; John, a commercial
traveler for a San Francisco business house ;
Edward C, manager of the Penny store, at
Blackwell, Oklahoma ; and Charles, in the
grocery business at Malvern. The mother of
the above family is a member of the Episco-
pal church.
Mr. Higgins attended the public schools in
his native state and later the Chicago Univer-
sity. He began business life as clerk in a store
and had fine training as an employe of the
great house of Marshall Field & Co., first in
tlie Chicago establishment and later as one of
the firm's highly regarded traveling salesmen.
He then embarked in business for himself at
Las Animas, Bent county, Colorado, where
he confined himself to handling dry goods and
shoes, and remained in business there for sev-
en years. In 1913 he came to Scottsbluff, in-
vested in property and started the Golden Rule
store which has proved an exceedingly success-
ful enterprise, his amount of business having
doubled each year. He has been obliged to en-
large his quarters to accomodate his large
stock of dry goods, shoes and clothing. As a
merchant here he stands in the first rank.
In September, 1904, Mr. Higgins was united
in marriage to Miss Eva K. Knox, who was
born at Grand Island, Nebraska, and is a
member of the Christian church. They have
an interesting family of four children, name-
ly : Frank, Harold, Chester and Paul. Mr.
Higgins is interested in all that concerns
Scottsbluff, its schools, its business, its social
advantages, and as a member of the city coun-
cil, in which he is serving his second term, he
carefully considers such matters and lends his
influence accordingly. In the political field.
Republican principles and candidates have al-
ways been his choice. He has long been identi-
fied with the Odd Fellows.
FRANK R. BECKER, who is well-known
in business circles at Scottsblulf. is part owner
and general manager of Diers Bros. & Com-
pany store, with which important commercial
house he has been identified for a period ap-
proaching twenty-one years. He was born in
Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1878.
The parents of Mr. Becker, J. P. and Mary
T. (McCracken) Becker are deceased. The
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
69
father was born in one of the Rhine provinces,
Germany, and the mother in a New England
state. The father came to Indiana when young
and was married in that state and followed
the carpenter trade and was an auctioneer. He
came with his family to Butler county, Ne-
braska, in 1883, and during his later years en-
gaged in market gardening. His family con-
sisted of four sons and two daughters. He
was a Democrat in politics, a member of the
order of Odd Fellows and he belonged to the
German Lutheran church.
Frank R. Becker attended school at David
City, Nebraska, but left when he reached the
eighth grade, in order to become self support-
ing. For eight years he was a clerk with the
Diers Bros, firm at Fullerton, Nebraska. In
the spring of 1905 he came to Scoittsbluff and
went to work for the same people, operating
here under the firm name of Luft & Diers
Bros. After the death of Mr. Luft, Mr.
Becker continued with the other partners for
three years and then resigned and went to the
Mitchell Mercantile Company, where he had
charge of the clothing department for three
years. He then homesteaded six miles from
Mitchell, on Dutch Flats, where he now owns
eighty acres of irrigated land. On January
1, 1913, he came back to Scottsbluff to- become
manager of Diers Bros. Company store, in
which he purchased stock, which he increased
to a one-third interest on June S, 1914. ^Ir.
Becker has demonstrated great business ca-
pacity, having built up a comfortable fortune
entirely through his own efforts.
On August 28, 1912, Mr. Becker was united
in marriage to Miss Lacy Bryan, and they
have one son, Frank M., who was born August
23, 1916. Mrs. Becker is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mr.
Becker's mother also belonged. In politics he
is a Democrat but no seeker for office. He is
identified with the Knights of Pythias and the
Scottsbluff Country Club.
JOHN R. KELLY, who is one of Banner
coimty's progressive agriculturist^ .mil leading
citizens, has lived in tlii> nnini\ many years,
homesteading in 1888 and never parting with
his original purchase, which now comprises
.some of the most \-aluable land in the county.
He was born in Worth county, Missouri, De-
cember 7, 1867.
The parents of Mr. Kelly were John and
Jerusha (Millican) Kelly, the former of whom
was born in Ohio in 1838, and the latter in
Illinois, ]\Iarch 17, 1841. Her death occurred
in January, 1907. She was a faithful member
of the Baptist church from girlhood. Of their
six children, the two sons in Nebraska are John
R. and Samuel. In boyhood the father of Mr.
Kelley went to Illinois and lived there seven
years as a farmer, married there, and then
moved to Missouri, where he died in 1872.
John R. Kelley was only five years old when
his father died. He started to go to school in
Missouri, later went to school for a short time
in Page county, Iowa, and when ten years old
went to work on a farm in Kansas. He re-
mained one year and then went back to Mis-
souri, where he followed farm life for six
years and then went again to Iowa for two
years. After another year in Missouri, on
"March 23, 1887, he came to old Cheyenne
county, now Banner, and in July following
secured his homestead. At that time $100 would
purchase 160 acres of land that now would
bring $50 an acre. Mr. Kelly had to depend
entirely on his own efforts, and after securing
his claim, found it a serious undertaking to
make enough money to make his payments. In
those days real money was scarce in Nebraska
and remuneration for any kind of labor was
small, while farm produce brought but inade-
quate returns in the market. Mr. Kelly relates
that in 1892 he and his brother raised wheat
and hauled it a distance of twenty-five miles to
Kimball and sold it for twenty-four cents a
bushel, and pork, at the present time one of the
world's luxuries, commanded so small a price
that it became a cjuestion whether the raising of
hogs was worth while. The interest on money
at that time had risen to thirtv-nine per cent.
In the fall of 1889 Mr. Kelly went to Hall
county and husked corn in the vicinity of
Wood river for a cent and a half a bushel,
working for Fremont Dodge. The latter ad-
vised Mr. Kelly to keep his Banner county land
at all hazards, and the taking of this advice
proved very advantageous to Mr. Kelly, al-
though it necessitated much hard work to fol-
low it. During those early years he worked
for $1 a day, then acceptable by workers and
employers alike, and to secure this had to
travel as far as Greely, Colorado, and Chey-
enne, Wyoming.
However, those times have long since passed
away. Starting with 160 acres, Mr. Kelly ac-
quired more land as his improving circum-
stances permitted until at present he is the
owner of 3,200 acres. It is mainly ranch land
and his .stock interests are very important. He
believes Hereford cattle and Percheron horses
the most profitable and feeds about ten head
of horses a year and about 200 head of cattle,
and raises annually sixty fine cows for breed-
ing purposes. It was on Air. Kelly's land that
70
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
the Prairie Oil & Gas Company sunk a shaft
that struck an extra good grade of oil but at
that time and with the company's facilities, did
not seem to indicate oil in paying quantity.
Further investigation has convinced Mr. Kelly,
however, that some day he will have a well
here with a profitable flow of oil.
On December 25, 1900, Mr. Kelly was
united in marriage to Miss Anna McKinnon,
the ceremony taking place at Harrisburg, Ne-
braska. She is a daughter of Hugh and Eliza-
beth (Mickle) McKinnon, natives of Scotland,
who settled in Banner coimty in 1889. They
died in Harrisburg, the father in 1904 and the
mother in Scottsbluff, May 3, 1918. Three of
their children live in Scottsbluff county, Ne-
braska, and two others, Mrs. Kelly and Ed-
ward McKinnon, in Banner county. ]\lr. and
Mrs. Kelly have had two children, the one sur-
vivor, Allison, living at home.
Since early manhood iMr. Kelly has taken an
active part in public matters that he has be-
lieved come within the scope of good citizen-
ship. Politically he is a Democrat and has
wide influence in county politics but has never
accepted any public office except that of sheriff,
serving one year (1896) by appointment, and
two years by election, his term expiring in Jan-
uary, 1899. He is a member of the Farmers
Union, and is financially interested in the
Scottsbluff Creamery and the Independent
Lumber Company of Scottsbluff.
ERNEST H. KLINGMAN, a representa-
tive business man of Scottsbluff, proprietor of
a grocery house and a storage business, was
born in Clayton county, Iowa, September 6,
1864, the son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Lowe)
Klingman, the former born in Germany and
the latter in Connecticut. The father was a
blacksmith by trade and owned his own shop
in Iowa, in which state he married and both he
and wife died in Iowa. Of their seven chil-
dren Ernest H. is the only one who lives in
Nebraska.
Ernest Klingman had only country school
advantages, and after his school days ended
he remained at home and worked as a farmer
until twenty-one years old. In 1888 he came to
Nebraska and settled on the Middle Loup
river in Custer county, where he remained two
years, then lived one year in Holt county, be-
ing a farmer in both places. Mr. Klingman
then went to Oklahoma and from there to
Kansas, in which latter state he remained six
years working for farmers, then came back to
Nebraska and accepted employment with
Charles Richardson, who conducted a livery
business at Broken Bow. In 1901 he came
to Scottsbluff county and engaged in a dray-
ing business after which he invested in proper-
ty at Scottsbluff and opened a confectionery
store. In 1917 he erected a fine store building
on his home lot and put in a stock of fancy
and staple groceries from which he has re-
ceived gratifying remuneration for the money
invested as well as the thought and labor
he has expended. His storage business is
also a profitable source of income. This is
but the merest outline of Mr. Klingman's ca-
reer but it gives convincing proof that per-
sistent industry and honest effort, will bring
reward.
In 1889 Mr. Klingman married Miss Ma-
tilda Predmore, who was born in Hardin
county, Iowa, a daughter of John and Nancy
Jane (Peters) Predmore, natives of Ohio. Airs.
Klingman was the fourth born in her parent's
family of fourteen children, twelve of whom
are living. Mr. and Mrs. Klingman have four
children : Charles, Roy, May and Lloyd. The
one daughter is the wife of John Montz of
Scottsbluff. All three sons of Mr. Klingman
have been in military service and attached to
the heavy artillery and all are safe at home
again after overseas service. Mrs. Klingman
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. In politics Mr. Klingman is a Re-
publican.
JOHN M. MARTIN, who is an enterpris-
ing and progressive business man of Scotts-
bluff, extensively interested in the handling
of real estate, is a Nebraska product and is
proud of the fact. He was born at Hastings,
in 1888, the sixth in a family of ten children
born to John and Mary (Rose) Martin.
The father of Mr. Martin was born in the
state of New York, one of a large and im-
portant family. His father, Solomon Martin,
a native of New York, came to Nebraska in
1874 with his son John and family, being then
aged ninety-five years. He had 131 grand-
children and great-grandchildren. John Mar-
tin drove a team and covered wagon the entire
distance from Illinois and when he reached
Adams county where he intended to home-
stead, he camped and tethered his horses on
the present site of the courthouse at Hastings.
He was a farmer all the rest of his life, his
death occurring in April, 1918. He was mar-
ried in Nebraska to Mary Rose, who was bom
in Ohio and now resides at Mullen, Nebraska.
Her father, Peter Rose, was a veteran of the
Civil War. She is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church.
John M. Martin attended school for five
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
71
years at Guide Rock, Nebraska, and after his-
school period was over he became an auction-
eer, having the gift of ready speech, and con-
tinued in that Hne at Minatare and Mullen,
for eight years. He was so successful that his
services were engaged by C. H. Irion for the
selling of real estate after he came to Scotts-
blufif in 1916, and since the latter part of 1917
they have been equal partners in the business.
The operate all through the Platte Valley, do-
ing a large business in farm property.
On May 28, 1913, Mr. Martin was'united in
marriage to Miss Sylvia Hendrickson, who
was born in Harlan county, Nebraska, a
daughter of James Hendrickson, a prominent
farmer in Harlan county. Mrs. Martin is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Martin is much more interested in busi-
ness than in politics, although he is a thought-
ful and careful citizen, but he has not identi-
fied himself with any particular party, voting
according to his own judgment. He belongs
to the Odd Fellows. His acquaintance is wide
and his personal friends are everywhere.
SAMUEL WILLARD RIPLEY, a well-
known resident of Scottsbluff and an active,
useful citizen, came to this city in 1900, from
his homestead in what was then Cheyenne
county, but which has since been organized as
ScottsblufY county, Nebraska, where he had
pre-empted and taken a tree claim in 1886.
He has been greatly interested in the success
of the irrigation projects, and perhaps only
a few of his neighbors are aware that he, with
B. F. Gentry established the first irrigation
project in Nebraska, when they ran water by
ditch onto a tract of millet, for D. D. Johnson.
Later Mr. Ripley was superintendent of the
Enterprise Ditch for one year. He was born
in Fremont county, Iowa, August 28, 1861,
and was a crowing, happy infant when his
father marched away to take part in the Civil
War.
Mr. Ripley's parents were Samuel A. and
Nina E. (Barger) Ripley, the former born in
the state of New York and the latter in Iowa.
The paternal grandfather was S. W. Ripley,
a native of New England, who practiced medi-
cine first in Ohio and later in Iowa and died
in Fremont county. The family settled in
Iowa before the Civil War and from that state
Samuel A. Ripley enlisted for service in com-
pany E twenty-ninth Iowa infantry, and did
his full duty as a private soldier for over three
years, never being either wounded or captured.
Early in life he was a fanner but later a butch-
er. He was a fine, honest man whom many
mourned when he died in 1889, but, because
of his generous instincts never was a success
financially. He was a Republican in politics,
a member of the Odd Fellows and throughout
life was influenced by the Christian training
he had received in a good home. He was mar-
ried in Iowa to Nina E. Barger, who is also
deceased, their burials taking place at Weeping
Water, Nebraska. She was reared in the
Methodist Episcopal faith. Of their eight
children Samuel Willard is the oldest survivor,
the others being: William Jasper, a farmer
and carpenter living in Wyoming ; Guy Doug-
las, in the electrical business in California;
Feribey, the wife of Rev. James G. Clark, a
Presbyterian minister at Beaver City, Nebras-
ka; and Loy E., the wife of Charles C. Spenc-
er, of Wyoming.
Samuel W. Ripley learned the trade of a
butcher and was a successful farmer for two
years in Nebraska. In 1886 he located in
Cheyenne county, now Scottsbluff county,
four miles northeast of the city of Scottsbluff,
and lived there until 1900, passing through
many of the hardships that made pioneering
in the state a dift"icult and trying process. Af-
ter coming to Scottsbluff' he operated a hotel
and a meat business, then was appointed
superintendent of the Enterprise Ditch. In
August, 1905, Mr. Ripley accepted a position
with the Standard Oil Company as local man-
ager, with headquarters at Scottsbluff, and
has since continued with this corporation. He
has taken part in civic affairs quite actively,
has accepted the responsibilities of office when
called on and has and still is assisting in the
substantial development of this place.
In 1889 Mr. Ripley married Miss Anna M.
Johnson, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, a daughter
of D. D. Johnson, a wounded veteran of the
Civil War, who makes his home with Mr.
Ripley. Mr. and Mrs. Ripley have an adopted
daughter, Clara Lois, a schoolgirl of fourteen
years. The family belongs to the Presbyter-
ian church. Mr. Ripley is an Odd Fellow and
is a Republican ini politics. During his serv-
ice of four years on the town board, he was
chairman a part of the time. Mr. Ripley can
relate many interesting facts concerning early
days here when he was engaged in freighting
between Alliance and Gering and Kimball and
Gering, when the actual necessities of life were
hard to secure and had to be hauled by teams
from those railroad towns. Scottsbluff was
only a year old when Mr. Ripley came here
and took charge of the hotel with, probably,
not over one hundred inhabitants. Since that
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
early day he has been a continuous resident
of this now flourishing and prosperous town.
ASA E. CHILES, who represents one of
the leading piano and music houses of the
country at Scottsblufl:, the A. Hospe Company
of Omaha, Nebraska, has been located in this
city since 1917, and has assisted in developing
a fine musical taste here. In addition to being
an excellent business man, Mr. Chiles has
shown a hearty interest in everything pertain-
ing to this city and has made many personal
friends.
Asa E. Chiles was born at Riverside, Wash-
ington county, Iowa, May 23, 1880. His par-
ents are Jacob S. and Susan E. (Armagost)
Chiles, the former of; whom waS' born in
Marj'land and the latter in Pennsylvania. In
1872 the father went to Iowa and was mar-
ried in 1876. and they have three children:
Asa E., who is of Scottsbluff ; George S., who
is chief draftsman for the American Steel
Foundries Company, Chicago; and Amy, who
is the wife of Lewis E. Schmidtt, who is in
the telephone business at Council Bluffs. In
politics the father is a Republican and belongs
to the order of Knights of Pythias. Both par-
ents are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church at Clarinda, Iowa, where they live re-
tired. The father engaged in farming for
many years in Iowa and owns a body of land
in Canada, on which he spends a part of his
time.
Asa E. Chiles was educated 'n Page county,
Iowa, and attended the high school at Clar-
inda. He has been the builder of his own
fortune, beginning with Swift & Company,
packers, at the age of fourteen years and con-
tinuing with that company until he was twen-
ty-two. Musically inclined and possessing mu-
sical gifts, he then accepted the opportunity to
go into the piano business at Bushnell, Illinois,
where he remained two years. During the
next six years he was on the road in special
sale work for different piano houses, follow-
ing which, for four years he was with E. L.
Benedict & Sons at Clarinda. In 1916 he
became associated with the A. Hospe Piano
Company of Omaha, and on May 3, 1917,
came to Scottsbluff and took charge of their
piano and music business here and future?
prospects are all that could be desired. Mr.
Chiles has six employes, five in this city and
one at Alliance.
In 1899, at Clarinda, Iowa, Mr. Chiles was
united in marriage to Miss Sudie I. Leffler,
who was born at Des Moines, Iowa, and is a
daughter of George W. Leffler, who is in the
book and music business at Butte, Montana.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Chiles : Aileen, aged fourteen years, and War-
ren, aged twelve years. She is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Chiles
is not particularly active in politics but has
always been identified with the Republican
party. He belongs to the order of Knights of
Pythias and to several musical organizations.
LOU SCHWANER, who is in the jewelry
and optical business at Scottsbluff, is associat-
ed with his brother, Charles H. Schwaner, and
they operate under the firm name of Schwaner
Brothers. They were born in Valley county,
Nebraska, Lou Schwaner on March 6, 1883,
and Charles H. Schwaner on May 10, 1885.
They have practically spent their entire lives
in the jewelry business, the older partner be-
ginning at the age of twenty-one and the
younger when fourteen years old.
The parents of the Schwaner brothers are
H. J. and Margaret (Reese) Schwaner, the
former of whom was born in Wisconsin and
the latter in Indiana. They came to Iowa when
young and were married in Polk county. In
1882 the father homesteaded in Valley county,
Nebraska, and his children have heard him tell
of the hardships that faced the pioneers of that
time when the nearest neighbors were four
miles distant over a trackless prairie covered
with high-growing, wild, red-topped grass.
Fortunately easier times succeeded and it is a
great satisfaction to their sons that the par-
ents are now enjoying all the comforts of life
at Ord, where they live retired. Besides the
two sons mentioned they have two daughters,
namely : Lydia, who is the wife of R. E.
Mickehvait, a banker at Richfield, Idaho; and
Minnie, who is the wife of H. Snedeker, a
farmer near Thompson, Iowa.
Lou Schwaner obtained his public school
education at Ord, Nebraska. His first venture
in the jewelry business was at Greeley Center,
Nebraska, where he remained from 1903 to
1904, when he returned to Ord and in part-
nership with his brother, bought the business
of the jeweler with whom they had learned
the trade. They continued together until
1909, when they sold, and both moved to
Gooding, Idaho, where they engaged in farm-
ing for four months and then C. H. returned
to Ord, and Lou bought a store at Loup City.
In 1913 Charles H. sold his store at Ord and
during that winter engaged in the real estate
business in sounthern Texas, after which he
was in the jewelry business for three years at
Burwell, Nebraska, then traveled in the same
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
71
line out of Loup City for a while. In April,
1917, the brothers came to Scottsbluff and
opened their present store and they have pros-
pered. They carry a fine line of jewelry and
optical goods, making a feature of the latter
and manufacturing and grinding their own
lenses.
In 1907, Lou Schwaner was united in mar-
riage to Miss Mayme Auble, at Ord, Nebraska,
and they have two children : Charles and
Martha. He and family belong to the Presby-
terian church. Charles H. Schwaner married
Miss Bessie Rawles.. of Ord, Nebraska, and
they have one daughter, Georgia. The broth-
ers are Republicans in politics and members of
the Knights of Pythias. They are enterprising
citizens and honorable business men and com-
mand respect and enjoy the confidence of
everyone.
HOPE BROWN, who is a prominent and
highly respected citizen of Banner county, is
owner and proprietor of Big Horn ranch, con-
sisting of 5,000 acres of range and farming
land, and that this property has been acquired
through his own unassisted efforts, speaks well
for his industry, good judgment and business
foresight. He was born in the city of Glasgow,
Scotland, October 10. 1867. and is a son of
Robert and Agnes (Boyd) Brown.
From Scotland the parents of Mr. Brown
came to the United States in 1868. For several
years they lived at Madison, Wisconsin, where
the father followed his trade of stonecutter,
then moved to Omaha, and one year later to
Colfax county, Nebraska. The father home-
steaded near Schuyler and lived on his land
there until his death, which occurred in 1878.
As opportunity offered he worked at his trade,
always frugal and industrious, a man of ster-
ling integrity. The mother of Mr. Brown still
lives in Colfax county and owns the original
homestead. Both parents belonged to the Pres-
byterian church. Of their nine children, six
survive, and of these Hope and David live in
Banner county.
Hope Brown went to school until twelve
years old and then began to be self-supporting.
After working -for farmers, both in Nebraska
and Iowa, he ",turned to the home farm and
was engaged thJi-e for five years, coming then
to Banner countj': In 1889 he bought a relin-
quishment and homesteaded, later bought addi-
tional land in the county and finally the prop-
erty on which he has resided for seventeen
years. Formerly this place was known as Big
Horn postoffice and for seven years Mrs.
Brown was postmistress. Mr. Brown raises
100 head of White Face cattle and several car-
loads of hogs yearly, while 1,200 acres are de-
voted to general farming.
On April 5. 1893. Mr. Brown was united in
marriage to Miss Maggie E. Maynard, who is
a daughter of Alexander G. and Eva (Vin-
cent) Maynard, who now live retired at Mina-
tare. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown the following
children have been born : William O., who mar-
ried Pinkie, a daughter of Mervin Snyder ;
Edith, who married Rolland Sickles and now
lives in Maxwell county ; Agnes, who re-
sides at home; Alice, who is the wife of Fred-
erick Haskell, a farmer near Reddington ; and
Lillie, Hope, Jr., Byron, Eunice, Eva, and
Lois, all of whom reside at home, an intelligent
and happy family prominent in the social life
of the neighborhood.
In national matters Mr. Brown is a Repub-
lican, but sometimes issues come up in local
afifairs that cause him to cast an independent
vote. He has served in a truhtworthy manner
in public office at times, was a county commis-
sioner from 1902 to 1908. and was one whose
judgment was consulted about consolidating
three school districts with district No. 8. He is
well known in fraternal life, belonging to the
Masons, Knights of Pythias. Modern" Wood-
men of America, and United Workmen. Mr.
Brown is now a man of ample fortune. He
went a few years ago to Cheyenne, Wyoming,
and there worked in a brickyard, and helped in
the removal of Camp Carlin to Fort Russell.
Although he yet oversees the operation of his
large property, for the past five years ill health
has somewhat reduced his activity and he has
shifted some of his responsibility to younger
shoulders.
ALBERT B. KERNS. D. D. S., who is en-
gaged in the practice of dentistry at Scotts-
bluff, came to this city in 1917, atid with the
exception of a period of military training, has
been in continuous practice here ever since.
Dr. Kerns has thoroughly demonstrated his
knowledge of modern dentistry and has won
the confidence of the public in a professional
way, and at the same time has gained respect
and esteem as a young man of high personal
character.
Albert B. Kerns was born at Auburn, Ne-
maha county, Nebraska, in 1891, and is a son
of James W. and Alice J. (Crowley) Kerns,
the former of whom was born in Ireland and
the latter in the state of Illinois. Their mar-
riage took place in Illinois, and in 1878 ihey
came to Nebraska. The father was in the
lumber business almost all his life prior to re-
tirement, first embarking in the same at
Omaha, but later removing to Phelps, Mis-
HISTORY OF \\-ESTERN NEBRASKA
souri. At the latter place the town was sub-
merged when unexpected rises took place in
the river, entailing great loss of property. He
then moved to Auburn, Nebraska, which was
but a little hamlet at that time, and resumed
his operations in lumber and become one of
the substantial men of the place and still re-
sides there. For many years he has been a
prominent factor in Republican politics and
served one term in the state legislature. Both
parents of Dr. Kerns are members of the Ro-
man Catholic church. Of their eleven chil-
dren Albert B. was the fourth in order of
birth.
Albert B. Kerns was graduated from the
Auburn parochial school in 1907, after which
he spent two years in Creighton University,
Omaha, and in 1912 was graduated from
Creighton Dental college, Omaha, and im-
mediately entered into practice at Elgin, Ne-
braska, where he continued until 1916, spend-
ing the rest of the year in Fremont and then
establishing himself at ScottsblulT. He en-
tered military service in the National army,
September 7, 1918, taking a medical officers
training course at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia,
where he remained on duty until his honorable
discharge, December 22, 1918. In February
following the Doctor was found ready for
professional work in his of^ce, through unusu-
al experience better qualified than before for
the problems continually being presenited to a
dental surgeon.
In 1917 Dr. Kems was united in marriage to
Miss Helen Celia Toillion. who was bom at
North Platte, Nebraska, a daughter of Xavier
Toillion, who was born in France and is now
retired and lives at Sterling, Colorado. Dr.
and }ilrs. Kerns are members of the St. Ag-
nes Caithohc church, and he is very active in
the Knights of Columbus, also the local B. P.
O. E. In his political views he is a Republi-
can.
THOMAS F. KENNEDY, one of the en-
ergetic, progressive men of Scottsbluff, has
been prominent in business circles and in civic
affairs here ever since he chose this place for
his home in 1905. At present he is one of
the city officials and is also secretary and
treasurer of the Tri-State Land Company, and
in addition manages an extensive produce busi-
ness. Mr. Kennedy was born at St. Joseph,
Missouri, March 26, 1873, the son of Thomas
H. and Mary H. (Furman) Kennedy, the
former born at Drogheda, County Meath, Ire-
land, September 15, 1835, and died December
8, 1908, while the mother was a native of
the Empire State, bom July 25, 1839, and died
November 2, 1902, The parents were married
at Florence, Massachusetts, and two of their
three children survive, Thomas F. and Ruth
D., the eldest, Philip H., died at the age of
forty years. Mr. Kennedy's sister is the
widow of Dante Barton, who died August 6,
1917. For a number of years he was an edi-
torial writer for the Kansas City Star. Mrs.
Barton resides in Washington, where she is
connected with the National War Labor
Board. The life of Mr. Kennedy's father had
many elements of romance in it, his whole ca-
reer being well worth repeating. He was a
runaway from home at the age of thirteen
years, reached the United States as a stow-
away, picked up a fair education in his adopted
country as best he could, and was forty years
old when he was graduated from the law
school of the Kansas University. In 1868 he
located at St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1875 re-
moved to Lawrence, Kansas, and in 1880 to
Kansas City, where his death occurred. He
became well known in his profession and for
some years made a specialty of pension cases.
Thomas F. Kennedy obtained his school
training at Kansas City. His first business
experience was with a firm of building con-
tractors, after which he was engaged in the
produce business at Kansas City for a num-
ber of years. In May, 1905 he came to Scotts-
bluff and for a year was cashier and office
manager for the Tri-State Land Company, with
which organization he has continued as secre-
tary and treasurer. To some extent he has
engaged in the produce business, making a
specialty of buying potatoes.
On December 19, 1900, Mr. Kennedy mar-
ried Miss Alice Beesley, who was born at
Mossy Creek, Tennessee, and they have one
daughter, Alice Alberta, a student in the
Scottsbluff high school. Mr. Kennedy and
family are members of the Presbyterian
church. His parents belonged to the Con-
gregational church. He was reared in the Re-
publican party and has loyally supported its
principles all his life. Since coming to Scotts-
bluff he has been interested in the city's prog-
ress in every way, has served as village clerk
and almost continuously on the school board,
of which he is the present secretary.
FRED M. BRYAN, who is a prominent and
reliable business man of Scottsbluff, is at the
head of one of the largest jewehy establish-
ments in Western Nebraska, is widely and fa-
vorably known to the trade, and is vice presi-
dent of the Nebraska Retail Jewelers associa-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
75
tion. Mr. Bryan came to this city in 1913
and has identified himself with her best in-
terests, and his pubHc spirit and usefulness
are being utilized in his earnest civic efforts
as alderman of his city ward.
Fred M. Bryan was born at Mason City, Ne-
braska, in 1887, and is a son of Millard C.
and Mary A. (Boden) Bryan. They were
married in Illinois, came to Nebraska in 1879
and settled in Seward county, then the father
embarked in a mercantile business at Mason
City, where he continued until 1915, when he
disposed of his interests there and came to
Scottsblufif. Of their five children, Fred M.
was the third in order of birth, the others be-
ing: Mrs. Becker, a resident of Scottsblufif;
Mrs. R. C. Smith, who lives on a farm in
Butler county : Paul Franklin, in business with
his brother Fred ; and William Lloyd, who
died November 7, 1918, was also a member of
the firm of Bryan Bros.
Fred M. Ryan attended the public schools
of Ulysses, Nebraska, and afterward spent
two years at Omaha, attending a trade school
where he learned watchmaking. Afterward
for four years he was in the jewelry business
at Ulysses, then sold out and in 1913 came to
Scottsblufif. Mr. Bryan has a beautiful store
well stocked in his line, his goods being care-
fully selected to suit the most critical taste and
of great value. He has patrons all through
the Platte Valley and is prepared to supply
jewels or jewelry designs for all occasions.
In 1909 Mr. Bryan was united in marriage
to Miss Lillian Peterson, who was born at Fre-
mont, Nebraska, and educated in the high
school there. Her father, David Peterson, car-
ries on a plumbing business at Fremont. She
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. They have two children, Maude and
Rex. Politically he is a Republican and fra-
ternally an Odd Fellow, a Scottish Rite Ma-
son and Shriner.
PAUL F. BRYAN, who is a member of
the jewelry firm of Bryan Bros., at Scottsblufif,
is well known in this city, to which he came in
1911 and was identified with a prominent firm
here before his present one was organized.
Mr. Bryan was born at" Ulysses, Nebraska, in
1892, and is a son of Millard C. and Mary A.
(Boden) Bryan, who now live retired at
Scottsblufif.
The parents of Mr. Bryan came from Illi-
nois to Nebraska in 1879. The father located
first in Seward county, later moved to Ulysses
in Butler county and then embarked in the
mercantile business at Mason Citv in Custer
county, where he continued until 1915, when
he retired to Scottsblufif. He is a Republican
in his political views.
Paul Franklin Bryan is one of a family of
five children, two daughters and three sons.
All three sons engaged in business together
under the style of Bryan Bros., at Scottsblufif,
in 1913, but only two survive, Fred and Paul
F,. the other, William Lloyd, having died No-
vember 7, 1918. Paul F. Bryan was educated
at Ulysses and after completing the high
school course, learned the jewelry trade under
his brother. In 1911 he came to Scottsbluff
and was connected with the firm of Diers
Bros., until he went into partnership with his
brother as Bryan Bros.
Mr. Bryan is one of the returned soldiers
from overseas service in the Great War, his
experiences while in France for six months,
including the terrific fighting in Argonne For-
est. Many of his brave comrades fell there
and he was so exhausted that he had to be
sent to a hospital in Bordeaux. He was a
member of Company A Three hundred fifty-
fifth infantry, Eighty-ninth division, a serg-
eant in rank. He suffered first from a gas
attack, August 8, 1918, went back to the front
lines on September 15, left the hospital De-
cember 8 and sailed for home, and with duty
well done, was honorably discharged January
11, 1919. He earned a place on the record
that Nebraska will cherish of her best and
bravest sons.
GUS W. LAWTON, who owns an attrac-
tive jewelry store at Scottsblufif, is a man of
marked executive ability, a good citizen and
quite active in civic afifairs. He is one of the
younger business men of the this city and
came here in 1915, but he has shown business
ability and a recognition of the highest stan-
dard of commercial integrity. Mr. Lawton
was born at Fairhope, Alabama, June 2, 1889,
the son of John and Clara (Craiuto) Lawton,
both born at Leeds, in Yorkshire, England.
The father traveled for a number of years in
different parts of the world to secure speci-
mens for the British Museum, and he was a
hunter of wild animals in Africa and
Australia and shipped them to England. He
came to the United States and was married at
Chicago, Illinois, and in 1885 settled in Ala-
bama. Mr. Lawton is now of venerable age,
being in his ninetieth year, the mother being
aged seventy-five years. They are highly re-
spected and esteemed residents of Greeley,
Colorado. Of their three surviving children,
Gus W. is the eldest, the others being daugh-
76
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
ters ; Mrs. E. J. Preston, of Kansas City, and
Madeline, a teacher near Greeley.
During Mr. Lawton's school period, the
family lived in Texas, and in 1904 he was
graduated from the Dennison high school and
shortly afterward went to Denver, Colorado,
where he served an apprenticeship at the jew-
eler's trade. For one year he was in a jewelry
house at Chamita, New Mexico, then went to
Salt Lake, Utah, and from there to Galveston,
Texas. Later he located in Chicago, Illinois, in
all these cities working in the manufacturing
departments of large business houses in his
line, and before he came to Scottsblufif, Buf-
falo, Kansas City and Denver had been added
to the list of cities where he had resided and
been associated with jewelry concerns. He has
a well arranged store with a complete stock
and has built up an excellent business.
In politics Mr. Lawton is a Republican but
aside from partisan activities, has shown much
public spirited interest concerning the prog-
ress of ScottsblufT. He is a member of the
Knights of Pythias and has served through all
the chairs except vice chancellor. He has a
wide circle of social acquaintances and is a
member of the Country Club and its secretary.
CLARENCE G. STEEN, D. D. S., who is
well known professionally all through the
Platte Valley, enjoys the distinction of being
the oldest dental practitioner in point of time
at Scottsbluff. Dr. Steen is a native of Nebras-
ka and was born at Wahoo, in Saunders coun-
ty, November 1, 1883.
The parents of Dr. Steen, John and Mary
Louise (Hought) Siteen, natives of Norway,
came to Iowa when young and were married
at Decorah in that state. Of their four chil-
dren Dr. Steen is the third in order of birth,
the others being: Mrs. A. C. Killian, whose
husband is a clothing merchant : Theron H.,
who is in the stock business in South Dakota ;
and Mona, who looks after the domestic affairs
of her brother at ScottsblufT. The parents still
reside at Wahoo, where they are active in the
Methodist Episcopal church. The father is
a member of the Masonic fraternity, in politics
he is a Republican and in earlier years was
quite prominent in public life, at one time be-
ing city treasurer of Omaha and state land
commissioner. He is now engaged in the real
estate line at Wahoo.
After his public school course, C. G. Steen
spent three student years at the University of
Nebraska and in 1908 was graduated from
the school of dentistry of Creighton Univer-
sity, Omaha. He began the practice of his
profession at Scottsblufif and continued until
1915 when he went to Omaha and practiced
there for two years and then returned to
ScottsblufT and resumed practice. Dr. Steen
has a reputation for skill in his profession that
places him in the front rank of dental
surgeons.
On June 6, 1908, Dr. Steen was united in
marriage to Miss Mable Mellinger, who was
born at Burlin.gton, Iowa, and died December
13, 1914, survived by three children, namely :
Jane, John M. and Virginia Louise, their
ages ranging from nine to six years. Dr. Steen
has been prominent in Republican political cir-
cles and active in public affairs here, at one
time serving as mayor of the city, 1914-1915.
He is a Consistory Mason and has been an
official of the Blue Lodge.
JAMES T. ANDERSON. — It is a fact of
modern medicine that when mysterious dis-
eases attack, in many cases the dentist is called
in to diagnose and successful treatment fol-
lows his advice. An experienced dental sur-
geon of the modern school at Scottsblufif, is
found in Dr. James T. Anderson, who has
been established in this city since August, 1917.
Dr. Anderson was born in 1875, at Red Wing,
Minnesota.
The parents of Dr. Anderson were John A.
and Elizabeth (Johnson) Anderson, the form-
er of whom was born in Sweden and the latter
in Pennsylvania. Both came to Minnesota as
young people and were married there. Of
their seven children, James T. is the youngest
of the five survivors, the others, being: Min-
nie, the wife of John Fryer, a resident of Min-
neapolis, Minnesota ; Charlotte L., an artist,
lives at Minneapolis ; the wife of
William Richards, formerly an educator but
now in the real estate business ; and Louise, a
teacher of physical culture and dancing. The
parents were members of the Methodist Epis-
copal church. The father was a fanner all
his life when not engaged in serving his coun-
try (1887) in the state legislature, and in
1861-65 as a soldier in the Civil War. As a
member of company D Third Minnesota in-
fantry, he participated in many of the serious
battles of that struggle.
James T. Anderson was graduated in the
agricultural course from the University of
Minnesota in 1898. He then taught school
for two years in North Dakota and for one
year afterward was clerk in a store. In 1904
he completed his course in dentistry at the In-
diana Dental college, following which he lo-
cated at Axtell, in Kearney county, Nebraska,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
77
where he continued in active practice until he
came to Scottsbluff. Dr. Anderson has a well
earned reputation for professional skill, and is
in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative prac-
tice.
In June, 1906, Dr. Anderson was united in
marriage to Miss Anna Halberg, born at
Greenville, Illinois, and they have four chil-
dren : Loretta. Hobson, Francis and Benja-
min John. In politics Dr. Anderson is a Re-
publican and he and wife belong to the Pres-
Presbyterian church.
CHRIS KRONBERG. — Over a quarter of
a century of connection with the agricultural
interests of Scottsblufif county has made Kris
Kronberg one of the substantial and well-
known men of this vicinity. A native of Ger-
many of Danish descent, when he came to the
United States in 1882, he brought with him
many of the admirable traits of the people of
both those coimtries, and the success that has
come to him has been won by legitimate par-
ticipation in the enterprises of this section.
Mr. Kronberg says that next to the pride he
takes in the fact that his sons did their full
duty to the United States during the war with
Germany, is that in his good farm and his rec-
ord when he served his community and the
coimty as assessor and deputy sheriff. He is
progressive in his ideas and methods, takes an
active part in all questions for the upbuilding
of this section, as well as state and national
affairs.
Chris Kronberg was born in North Schles-
weg. Germany, January 18, 1862, the son of
A. Kronberg. a native of Denmark, and Lena
(Andersen) Kronberg, who was born in Ger-
many. The father was an innkeeper in the old
country where he and his wife passed their
lives. They had three children : Georgia, who
died in Germany; Martin, located in Sidney,
Xeberaska; and Chris. The brother is now
dead. As a youth the boy received an excellent
education in the public schools of Germany,
which are supervised by the governnient. Init lie
saw little future for a man without money in
the old country and determined that he would
go to America and in the new country secure a
foothold from which to climb the ladder of for-
tune, and he set sail for the L'nited States, ar-
riving in 1882. He had little knowledge of lan-
guage, conditions or methods, however, he was
quick to familiarize himself with both the
tongue and customs of his adopted country.
Soon after landing on our shores he came west
as the idea of every man from European coun-
tries is to possess land, but as he had little
money he began punching cows for a cattle
outfit near Ogallala, Nebraska. Afterward he
removed to Sidney and still with his original
determination in mind, to Scottsbluff county in
1888, where he preenipted one hundred and
sixty acres of land, proved up on it, made some
improvements, and then was able to dispose of
it to advantage. He then came to his present
place, section 5, township 22-55, where he
bought a hundred and sixty acre tract, home-
steaded twenty-seven additional acres and on
this land developed a fine farm, and there
established a home.
In 1888 Mr. Kronberg married I\Iiss Betty
Smith, a native of Illinois, and to this happy
couple were born ten children : Mary, the wife
of Roy Konkle, lives on a Scottsbluff farm;
Bertha, the wife of Sam Perkins, lives on a
farm north of Mitchell; Charles has recently
returned home after thirteen months service in
France, during which time he took part in some
of the most important battles of the war and
won promotion to the rank of sergeant, having
been a member of the One Hundred and Six-
teenth Machine Gun Battalion ; William is still
in France at this writing, being a member of
the One Hundred and Ninth Engineers ; Jesse
was in the army, but was discharged for dis-
ability; Sophie, Roy, Grace, Ruth, and Gladys
are still members of the family circle. Mr.
Kronberg is an active member of the Modern
Woodmen, and in politics votes independently,
believing the best man should be elected to
office in local affairs regardless of party lines.
Mr. Kronberg served one term as assessor and
two years as deputy sheriff. He helped organ-
ize the company that built the Enterprise ditch
and has assisted in the management of same
for more than thirty years. His service for the
county was highly satisfactory and a host of
friends are proud of the record he made while
in office. J\Ir. Kronberg believes that a public
official owes a real duty to the people who elect
him and he did his best to demonstrate in a
practical way the ideas he advocates to the sat-
isfaction of his adherents and his own con-
HARLIN I. BROWN, M. D., chiropractor,
has been a resident of Scottsbluff' since the fall
of 1911, and has built up a large and lucrative
practice here, and has an established reputa-
tion all through the valley for unusual success.
Dr. Brown was born April 24, 1873, at Can-
ton, Missouri.
The parents of Dr. Brown were Abner D.
and Matilda (Mullen) Brown, the former of
whom was born at Indianapolis, Indiana, and
died in Custer county, Nebraska, in 1910,
when aged fiftv-six vears. The latter was
78
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
born at Streator, Illinois, where their marriage
took place, and she now lives in Custer coun-
ty. Of the family of ten children Dr. Brown
is the second in the list of eight sun'ivors. the
others being: C. L., a farmer in Arkansas;
L. A., a chiropractic at Kearney; Stella, the
wife of William Halliday, a farmer in Mon-
tana ; F. C, a farmer in Custer county; Earl
W.. also a substantial farmer in Custer county ;
Lila, who is the wife of William Phifer, who
is in the draying business at Arnold. Nebras-
ka ; and Oma, who lives at home. The father
came to Custer county, Nebraska, in 1881 and
homesteaded, later becoming active in Republi-
can political circles and serving as a county
commissioner. He belonged to the Christian
church and was both a Mason and an Odd
Fellow..
Harlin J. Brown attended the public schools
in Custer county. He was graduated in his
school of medicine at Universal college, Dav-
enport, Iowa, in 1910, immediately afterward
beginning practice at Calloway, Nebraska, but
in November, 1911, estabhshed himself at
Scottsbluff. He has some remarkable cures to
his credit and his patients come from all ranks
in life.
In 1897 Dr. Brown was united in marriage
to Miss Elizabeth Holliday, a daughter of C.
T. Holliday, an early settler in Custer county.
Dr. and Mrs. Brown have two children. Fay
S. and Fonda, the latter of whom, now twelve
years old, is yet in school. The former en-
tered the aviation department of the National
army. March 4. 1918, and was in training
for thirteen months at Ebertsfield, Arkansas,
making many flights. He was honorably dis-
charged and reached home in April, 1919. Dr.
Brown is one of the city's sterling citizens but
is not active in politics, his profession making
such heavy demands that added official serv-
ice, if his desires were in that direction, would
be almost impossible. For many years he has
been an Odd Fellow, passed through all the
chairs at Arnold, Nebraska, then entered the
Encampment, and has served two terms as dis-
trict deputy grand master.
ROBERT E. GILLETTE, who operates a
first class blacksmith and carriage shop at
Scottsblufif, does a large business because the
public has learned that he is a competent
workman and reliable business man. He has
been a resident of Scottsblufi' since the spring
of 1911 and is numbered with the town's use-
ful and representative citizens.
Robert E. Gillette was bom in the southern
part of Wisconsin, May 4, 1869, and is a son
of Hamilton and Alargaret (Downs) Gillette,
the latter of whom was born in Ireland and
the former in New York. He was twenty-five
years old when he located in Wisconsin, where
he married, and some years afterward moved
to Gage county, Nebraska. He was a carriage-
maker by trade and worked at the same in
New York, Wisconsin and Nebraska, conduct-
ing his own shops at Beatrice and Adams in
Gage county, his death occurring at Adams.
Of his six children the following survive:
Elizabeth, the wife of John Frederick, a re-
tired farmer of Beatrice ; Emily, who resides
at Adams ; Robert E., who lives at Scottsblufi' ;
and Minnie, the wife of Harry Smith, a farm-
er in Michigan. The father of Mr. Gillette
was a Republican in politics and he belonged
to the Masonic fraternity.
Robert E. Gillette attended the public
schools at Adams, Nebraska, after which he
worked as a farmer until he was twenty-two
years old, at which time he learned the black-
smith trade. He conducted his own shop at
Adams until he was burned out, in 1910, and
in the spring of the following year came to
Scottsbluff. Here he has a good business loca-
tion with modern tools and equipments, and
has no fault to find with the large volume of
business coming his way.
In 1899 Mr. Gillette was united in marriage
with Miss Sadie E. Annabell, who was born
near Adams, Gage county, Nebraska, and they
have one daughter, Gladys. Mr. Gillette and
his family- belong to the Mcth<^dist Episcopal
church. In politics he is a Republican.
JESSE C. COOMES. — There are many
lines of business carried on in every modern
community that are rightly deemed important
but, considering the relation that meat prod-
ucts bear to the sustaining of life, it would
seem that the meat industry in all its branches,
is among the foremost of all. A leading butch-
er and meat dealer at Scottsbluff is found in
Jesse C. Coomes, who, in a short time here
has built up a fine business.
Jesse C. Coomes was born in Illinois, Febru-
ary 27, 1884, and is a son of John W. and
Sarah (McDonald) Coomes, the latter of
whom was born in Illinois and the former in
Iowa, in which state they were married. In
1892 they came to Nebraska and the father
bought a farm nead Wood River, in Hall coun-
ty. The mother died there but the father
survives and now lives retired. Of the fam-
ily of five children Jesse C. is the second of
three survivors, his two sisters being as fol-
lows : Pearl, the wife of William Mankin, a
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
79
hardware dealer at Glisco, Nebr-.ska ; and Ed-
na, the wife of John Mankin, a merchant at
Oshkosh, Nebraska. The parents were mem-
bers of the Christian church. In politics the
father is a Democrat, and he belongs to the
Knights of Pythias.
In the excellent schools at Wood River, and
later in a military school at Kearney. Jesse
C. Coomes was prepared educationally for the
future. After his graduation at Kearney in
1904, he went to Green River, Wyoming,
where he learned the butcher's trade and re-
mained there until 1912, when he came to
Mitchell, Nebraska, and worked in the butch-
er shop of Harry Naylor until February 1,
1919. when he came to ScottsblufY. Here, in
partnership with Mr. Naylor, he bought the
shop of Charles Deulen. The firm, although a
comparatively new one in this city, is doing
well. Both partners being experienced in the
business, they are able to offer the best meat
products, carefully selected and prepared, have
commodious quarters and do business accord-
ing to honorable methods.
Mr. Coomes was married in 1905, to Miss
Ida jMansfield, who was born at Salt Lake,
Utah, and they have one daughter, Anna, who
is attending school. Mr. Coomes is a Demo-
crat in politics and an intelligent, enterprising
man in business.
WILBUR J. IRELAND, who is prominent
in the grocery trade in Scottsbluff county, in-
terested in three cities in this line and manag-
er for the firm of Ireland Bros, at Scottsbluff,
is widely known in this section both in business
and public affairs.
Wilbur J. Ireland was born at Saling's
Grove, Nebraska, October 1, 1872. His par-
ents were George M. and Mar>' E. (Sexson)
Ireland, the former of whom was born in
West Virginia, and the latter in Iowa. They
were married near Omaha, Nebraska. In 1878
they came to Furnas county, Nebraska, where
the father homesteaded. In 1907 he removed
to Mitchell, in Scottsbluff' county, and his
death occurred there November 18, 1915. The
mother of Mr. Ireland still resides at Mitchell.
He grew up on the homestead and attended
the country schools. Until 1911 he continued
work as a farmer, then entered the employ of
the Carr-Neff Lumber Company at ^Mitchell
and remained so connected for five years. In
April, 1916, with his brothers he established
the grocery store at Scottsbluff, and also a
store at Gering, under the same firm name,
and a third store at Mitchell, which is operated
under the firm style of Ireland & Cockle.
These are all high class business houses and
are conducted carefully and systematically.
On May 28, 1902, Mr. Ireland was united
in marriage to Miss Lola Whitten, who was
born in Michigan and is a daughter of Lor-
enzo D. and Martha Whitten, who moved to
Saline county, Nebraska, in 1882. The moth-
er of Mrs. Ireland died in 1884, and the fath-
er died December 9, 1914, residing at that time
with Mr. and Mrs. Ireland. They have two
children: Raymond, born January 5, 1906;
and Eunice, bom December 5, 1909. Mr. and
Mrs. Ireland are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He belongs to the order of
Odd Fellows. In politics he is a Republican
and while a resident of Mitchell served on the
town council. Mr. Ireland has built up his
fortune through his own efforts, in earlier
years teaching school, farming, working as a
section hand and with a threshing outfit, all of
which reflects credit upon him and oft'ers an
example that might well be profitably emu-
lated.
RUBY P. DORAN, who has business inter-
ests of importance at Scottsbluff and other
points, is a native of Nebraska, born in Se-
ward county, February 23, 1877. Mr. Doran
has been the builder of his own fortunes, cir-
cumstances making such a course necessary in
his boyhood.
The parents of Mr. Doran were Barney W.
and Chrissie (Dobson) Doran, the latter of
whom was born in County Leitrim, Ireland,
and the former at Toronto, Canada, of Irish
ancestry and of the Catholic faith. He was a
college bred man, educated for the priesthood,
but never was ordained. By trade he
was a cabinetmaker. After his marriage
in Canada, he came, early in the seventies, to
Nebraska and homesteaded in Butler county.
His death was the result of an accident at
Sheridan, Wyoming. Of his seven children
Ruby P. was the third in order of birth, the
others being: William John Henry, an im-
porter and broker in the coffee trade, and a
wholesale coffee roaster, at Denver, Colorado ;
Ada May, an artist in china painting, resides
at Omaha ; Claude James, a stockman at Grand
Island; Collins, the fifth in order of birth;
Fred, employed in a shoe factory at St. Louis,
Missouri ; and Nellie, the wife of Lewis Davis,
a farmer near Valley Falls, Kansas. The
mother of the above family belonged to the
Presbyterian church.
Ruby P. Doran attended school at Ulysses,
Nebraska. His business connections before
the state of Nebraska became prohibition terri-
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
tory. were with the retail Hquor trade. In 1915,
he came to Scottsbluff and established him-
self in the bakerj' and confectionery business,
erecting a substantial one-story brick building
with dimensions of 25x100 feet. He has pros-
pered greatly in this enterprise which has ex-
panded to large proportions.
In June, 1908 Mr. Doran was united in mar-
riage to Miss Myrtle Coleman, who was born
at Ulysses. Nebraska, a daughter of George
and Katie Coleman, residents of Ulysses, Mr.
Coleman being a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Doran
have two sons, namely : Richard Peter, who
was born June 25, 1914; and William Elmer,
who was born in November, 1916. Mr. and
Mrs. Doran are members of the Episcopal
church. In politics Mr. Doran is independent
but not indififerent, the best interests of his
country being very dear to him. He is identi-
fied with the Masonic fraternity and as a
prominent man is active in many worthy or-
ganizations.
ROBERT L. COSNER, who for many
years was prominent in the dental profession,
and was the first dental practitioner at Scotts-
bluff, belonged to one of the old families that
had come from Illinois to Nebraska in pio-
neer days. Dr. Cosner was born in Illinois,
April 12. 1869, and passed out of life at
Scottsbluff, in the beautiful home he had just
completed, December 30, 1917.
Dr. Cosner's parents were William and
Rosetta (Epperson) Cosner, the former died
at Clayton. Nebraska, but the latter now
resides at Scottsbluff. With the death of her
son Robert L., Mrs. Cosner has but three liv-
ing children : Harry, in the real estate busi-
ness at Malta, Montana; Mrs. Edith Patter-
son, a widow, who lives with her mother ; and
Mrs. Harry Johnson, who also resides At
Scottsbluff. Mrs. William Cosner is a mem-
ber of the Presbyterian church.
Robert L. Cosner attended school in Nebras-
ka through boyhood and then entered the
dental school of Northwestern University,
Chicago, Illinois, from which he was graduat-
ed. For a while he practiced in Chicago, then
in Wayne and Schuyler, Nebraska, and also
in Montana, so when he came to Scottsbluff in
January, 1919, it was as an experienced dental
practitioner. He homesteaded in Scottsbluff
county and his widow still owns the property.
Dr. Cosner was skilled in his profession and
built up a wide reputation and a large practice,
of such extent that he was required to hire
an assistant during the last three years of his
life. He was a man of high personal charac-
ter, a member and liberal supporter of the
Presbyterian church, a faithful Mason and
Knight of Pythias, and an earnest, public-spir-
ited citizen. He was liberal in his benefac-
tions to charity and conscientious in his sup-
port of movements for the public good.
In June, 1914, Dr. Cosner was united in
marriage with Miss Carrie Young, who was
born in Scottsbluff county, a daughter of Will-
iam and Mary (Schumacher) Young, people
of importance and wide acquaintance in this
section of Nebraska. Dr. and Mrs. Cosner
had one daughter, Florence May, a most en-
gaging child who is a great comfort to her
bereaved mother. Mrs. Cosner is active in the
Presbvterian church.
William Young, father of Mrs. Cosner, was
horn in Iowa and her mother was born m
Wisconsin. They came to Nebraska and
homesteaded in Scottsbluff county in 1885,
Airs. Young being the first woman to live in
the Gering valley. Her two nearest neigh-
bors were miles distant and even the smoke
from their cabins could not be seen across the
pathless prairie covered with red topped,
swaying grass. The Youngs went through
many harrowing pioneer experiences but
bravely survived them all, reared and educated
a fine family, and sur\'ive with vigor left to
carefully and efficiently look after their numer-
ous interests, Mrs. Young remaining for this
purpose in Scottsbluff county, while Mr.
Young is engaged in attending to a profitable
fruit farm in Florida. Of their seven chil-
dren the following survive: George, Leonard
F., Mrs. Cosner, Ernest S., Minnie R. and
Florence E. The eldest son, George, is in the
lumber business at Marsland. Nebraska.
Leonard F. is a civil engineer and consultant
on construction work. He has worked on
many of the irrigation projects in Nebraska,
and for four years was on the Tri-State Ditch.
For the past six years he has been associated
with one of the largest concerns in New York,
Sanderson & Porter, builders of some of the
most extensive plants of all kinds in the
world. Ernest S.. who entered military train-
ing at the Presidio, California, sailed for
France in September, 1917. and was on the
Tuscania when it was torpedoed by the enemy.
Formerly he was attached to an artillery divi-
sion, but now is in a civilian division and is
port commander at St. Denis, France. Min-
nie R., who has chosen the noble calling of a
trained nurse, is in the Northwestern Hospi-
tal, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Florence E., is
a bookkeeper and stenographer in the First
National Bank of Scottsbluflf. The mother of
Mr. and Mks. Walter E. Jicnnings
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
81
the above family is a member of the CathoHc
church, but the father was reared a Lutheran.
They are widely known and universally es-
teemed.
WALTER E. JENNINGS was an infant
pioneer of this great commonwealth who re-
members that his first home here was a sod
house half in and half out, but a rather good
warm home at that and while the family pros-
perity was so great that he has no distinct rec-
ollections of that warm sod house, he believes
it must have had an excellent influence upon
his infant character for it must have played its
part in making him the upstanding, fearless,
progressive citizen of today. Before his eyes
have passed the kaleidoscopic panorama of
change that has worked silently but unceasing-
ly since territorial days to change the silent
rolling prairies, the "Great American Desert,"
as it was known for so many years, into a great
agricultural state, one of the richest in the
Union, now covered with thriving farms, pop-
ulous towns and cities knit together with
threads of steel. He has watched from j-ear
to year and even today as his eyes travel across
the wide fields of Scottsblufif, asks himself, "Is
it real?" For today he is a prosperous, well-
to-do farmer on land that even the Indians held
of little value save for the wild game they
killed upon it.
Walter Jennings was born in Iowa in 1873,
the son of William A. and Mary E. (Whipple)
Jennings, the former born in Illinois in 1848.
while the mother was of fine old New England
ancestry, born in Connecticut in 1841 and died
in 1916. The father was a farmer in Ohio
who emigrated to Nebraska soon after the ad-
mission of this state to the Union. He located
in \'alley county in 1873, took up a homestead
on which he proved up and made some im-
provements, then disposed of it to profit. He
seems to have been a pioneer by nature and
when settlements began to be marked, moved
on to more virgin country. After leaving Val-
ley county the family made a home in Boone
county on land purchased by the father, but
the lure of the west was in his blood and before
long they went to Midland, Montana, but later
returned to Scottsblutt county, where at last
the goal of his desire was reached for he still
resides on his farm in the vicinity of Mitchell,
a hale, hearty old man of seventy-three years,
who can recount many thrilling and interesting
experiences of the early days in this state. He
is a Republican in politics. The family were
members of the Episcopal church. Eight chil-
dren constituted the younger members of the
family: Gustavus, a farmer near Mitchell;
James W., on a farm in Montana ; Walter ;
Mary E., the wife of Oscar Collins, a farmer
of Valley county; John Elbert, a farmer in
Boone county ; Edward M. is located on a farm
near Bayard, Nebraska; Frederick, also on a
farm near Bayard ; and Charles, who has a
farm not far from his two brothers there.
Though he has not advanced far beyond the
psalmist's span of three score years and ten
and still possesses to the full amount his phys-
ical and mental vigor, Mr. Jennings has the dis-
tinction of having lived in Nebraska nearly a
half century, and it is gratifying to him to
know that he has been able to play a part in the
civic and industrial progress that have taken
place since his parents first brought him here
as an infant in arms. He spent his boyhood
days on his father's farm in Valley county,
acquiring his early education in the public
schools afforded in the new country at that
period. He made the various changes with the
other members of the family in Nebraska,
working during his youth for his father and
later independently for himself. His taste was
for rural life, and in 1906 he came to Scotts-
blufif to establish a permanent home. He took
up a homestead of eighty acres on which he
proved up and at once engaged in general
farming and stock-raising. Mr. Jennings has
a high grade of stock on his farm and special-
izes in Duroc Jersey hogs. He has a beautiful
home, well built and kept farm buildings, and
no better cultivated land is to be found in the
Mitchell district. Times have changed, but so
has the subject of this sketch. He is up-to-date
in methods, buys the latest farm machinery,
and thus today enjoys the well-earned fruits
of a well-spent, profitable life, standing high
in local circles for his honesty and kind-heart-
edness. He now owns 240 acres. He is a
Republican in politics, while with the family
he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
In 1896 was solemnized the marriage of Mr.
Jennings and Miss Ethel D. Weare, the
daughter of Burney and Sarah E. (Coffin)
Weare, who live in Mitchell. Mrs. Jennings
is a woman of high intellectual attainments,
being a graduate of the high school at Ord,
who for some years before her marriage taught
school. She is a charming, gracious woman
who has aided her husband in every way to
attain his present success and comfortable for-
tune. The following children belong to the
family: Cecil May, the wife of Henry S. Sul-
livan, who was a soldier during the World
^^'ar. being a member of a supply company in
the Eighty-ninth Division; Geneva L.. the wife
of Luther Stiver, who lives on a farm north of
82
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
INIitchell ; and William, Walter, and Evelyn, all
at home. Air. Jennings is enjoying a well-
earned success though he is only a man of
middle age, for in every relation of life he has
measured up to the full standard of manhood
and loyal citizenship.
WILLIAM E. KENT, who is president and
general manager of the Scottsbluff Potato
Growers' Association, is a well-known busi-
ness man in several states other than Nebras-
ka, for he long was an important factor in the
lumber industry and was financially interested
in all the numerous plants operated by the
■Walrath & Sherwood Lumber Company in
Nebraska. He has long been recognized as
an able, dependable business man, whose na-
tural sagacity has been invaluable in the large
enterprises in which he has engaged. _ Mr.
Kent however, had little assistance in building
up reputation and fortune, early beginning to
depend on his own efforts, and his entire ca-
reer has been marked by persevering industry
assisted by intelligent judginent. He was born
in Portage county, Wisconsin, in 1860.
The parents of Mr. Kent were Edward L.
and Sarah L. (McGuine) Kent, the latter of
whom was born in Scotland in 1833, and died
in 1917. The father of Mr. Kent was born in
England in 1830, and died in 1917. He came
to Detroit, Alichigan. and from there went to
Wisconsin, where he was married in Mil-
waukee, in 1851. In Michigan he was a farm-
er and buyer of logs and in Wisconsin was in
the lumber business. He served three years
and three months in the Civil War as a mem-
ber of the Nineteenth Wisconsin volunteer
infantry, and suffered both capture and slight
wounding. Of his five sons and two daugh-
ters, two sons, William E. and Frank J., and
two daughters, Jennie and Cora, are living.
Frank J. Kent is a wheat grower near Walla
Walla, "Washington. Jennie is the widow of
James Mclcroe. a large rancher and state trus-
tee of prisons ; and Cora is the wife of Frank
Hammil and they own and live on the old
family homestead. The parents were mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. The
father was active in the Republican party and
prominent in the Order of Odd Fellows.
William E. Kent had high school advan-
tages at Almond, Wisconsin. In 1879 he be-
gan working in the northern woods of Wis-
consin, and for a number of years spent much
time in the great timber country. After work-
ing seven months for a logging firm, J. J. Ken-
nedy & Co., of Spencer, Wisconsin, he used the
money he earned to complete his education.
In 1882 he came to Nebraska and homesteaded
in Antelope county, but soon sold his claim and
with his brother went to work with the con-
struction gang on the Oregon Short Line Rail-
road, from March to September, 1882. He
came then to Platte Center. Platte county, and
for eleven years was manager of the Chicago
Lumber Company of Omaha, retiring when
the business was sold to Walrath & Sherwood.
Subsequently, however, he becarne financially
interested with this firm when they bought his
plant at Monroe, and was in business at North
Bend as a member of the firm of the Wal-
worth, Sherwood & Kent Lumber Company,
acquiring interests in every plant operated by
the firm. He became auditor of the company
and handled all the business in Nebraska,
North and South Dakota and Iowa. He found-
ed the Platte Valley Cement & Tile Company
of Fremont, Nebraska, and was president of
that concern until 1916, when he sold his lum-
ber and other interests and moved to Sioux
county. He owns a quarter section of irri-
gated land and lived in Sioux county on his
farm until the spring of 1919, when he came
to ScottsblufT to assume the duties of presi-
dent and general manager of the ScottsblufT
Potato Growers' Association. He has greatly
improved the business outlook of this organi-
zation, which is a mutual body that expects to
have warehouses erected in a dozen towns
throughout the valley.
On December 16, 1886, Mr. Kent was united
in marriage to Miss Anna Bucknell, of Wau-
paca, Wisconsin, and they have two children :
Pearl, who is the wife of Fred Young, a farm-
er near Mitchell and they have two children,
William Andrew and Andrew Kent ; and John
Edward, who married Hester Collins, of
Dodge county, Nebraska, has one child, Helen
Alarie, and is with the Union Pacific Railroad.
Mr. Kent is a member of the Federated church
at Mitchell. He is a Republican in politics
and is a Consistory Mason.
WILLIAM E. CALHOUN, who is pro-
prietor of the Star Moving Picture house at
Scottsbluff, has been identified with this in-
dustry- since 1913, and through excellent judg-
ment and careful management, provides much
ejoyable entertainment to his patrons. Mr.
Calhoun was born in Adair county, Iowa, in
1881.
The parents of Mr. Calhoun, William and
Margaret (Emmons) Calhoun, were bom in
Pennsylvania and accompanied their parents
early to Iowa. The father was a farmer in
that state, near Greenfield in Adair county.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
83
but retired from active life in 1900, when he
moved to Nebraska. In politics he is a Demo-
crat and both he and wife belong to the
Methodist Episcopal church. Of their eight
children, William E. is the youngest of the
survivors, the others being: Jennie, widow of
Samuel Miller, lives in Idaho ; Myrtle, the
wife of C. T. Jackman, a real estate dealer in
Idaho ; Hattie, the wife of James Pence, a
railroad master mechanic, at Deadwood, South
Dakota ; Frank, in the furniture business at
Cambridge, Nebraska, where the parents yet
reside.
William E. Calhoun obtained his educa-
tion in the public schools, had some farm ex-
perience and then learned the carpenter trade
and after coming to Scottsblufi' in 1910 was
engaged as a carpenter and contractor until
1913, when he became interested in his pres-
ent enterprise. The Star, in size and equip-
ment, compares favorably with like places of
entertainment in other cities, and there is
much evidence to show that Mr. Calhoun's ef-
forts are appreciated.
In 1904 Mr. Calhoun was united in mar-
riage to Miss Maude Allen, who was born in
Nebraska. He takes no very active part in poli-
tics, voting independently, but is very much
interested in the further development of
Scottsbluiif and the welfare of its people, for
here he has been able to lay the foundation of
what promises to be an ample fortune.
SANFORlD STARK, a member of Scotts-
blufT's retired colony, and for years a promi-
nent citizen, belongs to an old New England
family of military distinction and of Scotch
descent. The records of this family in Con-
necticut date back to 1658. Mr. Stark was
born in New London county, Connecticut, De-
cember 3, 1849, the son of Henry S. and Mary
E. (Rathbun) Stark, who spent their entire
lives in Connecticut. The father was born in
1822 and died in 1857 : the mother, born in
1826, died in 1909. They had four children,
Elizabeth, Charles R. and Sanford yet sur-
viving. Elizabeth is the widow of John F.
Randall, who left Yale college to enter the
Union anny in the Civil War, in which he
served as a commissioned officer and after-
ward was prominent in the insurance field at
St. Louis. Charles R., has been treasurer of
the Rhode Island Horse Shoe Company for
many years. His son, Charles R., Jr., has
just returned home from honorable service in
the World War. The parents of the above
family were members of the Baptist church.
The father followed the sea all his life, was
captain of many vessels and was widely known
in seafaring circles. His parents were San-
ford and Nancy (Park) Stark, of Connecti-
cut, where they lived and died, the former
servmg a short time during the War of 1812,
and his ancestors were members of the Colon-
ial army under General George Washington,
and thus their names occur in the history of
Revolutionary days. EHsha Rathbun, the ma-
ternal grandfather of Sanford Stark of Scotts-
bluff married into the old Connecticut fam-
ily of Parker. Both he and wife lived to
advanced old age as did the paternal grand-
parents. Grandmother Stark being ninety-six
years old at the time of her death.
Sanford Stark was educated in an academy
at Mystic, Connecticut, the Civil War break-
mg into his academic studies, however On
account of his father being a seafaring man,
ships were familiar and interesting to him in
boyhood, and during the last year of the war
he succeeded in being the captain's helper on
a supply vessel running to Key West and Pen-
sacola. He returned then to his studies and
afterward became a clerk in a store, but the
sea called him once more and he took pas-
sage on a vessel from New York to San Fran-
cisco, by way of Cape Horn, and from the
western city sailed for Europe and by the
time he reached New York again, thirteen
months had elapsed. He recalls that experi-
ence with pleasurable emotions but his life
since then has been passed on land. Business
affairs have mainly engaged his attention and
prior to coming to Scottsbluff, in Aui^ust,
1909, he was cashier for the Great Western
Sugar factory, at Longmont, Boulder county,
Colorado. \Vhen the company began the con-
struction of its plant at Scottsbluff, Mr. Stark
was transferred to this city and continued as
cashier until he resigried in November, 1918,
at which time he retired from business. He
has continued an active citizen, however, and
during the late war assisted very materially
in the war loan drives and the Red Cross
work. Mr. Stark is well and favorably known
at Denver where, from 1879 to 1893,' he con-
ducted a wholesale boot and shoe business.
On November 4, 1872 Mr. Stark married
Miss Lucy Latham Dansom, who was bom at
New London, Connecticut, a daughter of Na-
thaniel and Catherine (Latham) Ransom, life-
long residents of that state. Mrs. Stark's
father left a prosperous lumber business to be-
come a soldier in the Union army during the
Civil War, as a member of the Twenty -first
Connecticut infantry. He suffered wounds
that required hospital care. Mrs. Stark has
84
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
one sister, Kittie, the wife of Edwin H. Tift,
a lumber merchant of Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. and Mrs. Stark have the following chil-
dren: Catherine, the wife of A. K. Sage,
proprietor of a large plumbing and steamfit-
ting plant in Brooklyn. New York ; Harry S.,
vice-president of the First National bank of
Scottsblufif ; Frederick B., a farmer near
Scottsblufif ; and Helen, who married J. B.
Badgley, a bookkeeper with the sugar fac-
tory in this city.
Mr. Stark and his family belong to the Bap-
tist church. In politics he is identified with
the Republican party. He is a member of the
Sons of the American Revolution.
JOHN F. RAYMOND, for many years
profitably interested in agricultural pursuits
and still owning valuable farm properties,
came to Scottsblufif in 1901, but has been a
resident of Nebraska for more than forty
years. Of New England birth and ancestry,
he possesses many characteristics that have
made that section notable, business foresight
being included.
John F. Raymond was born at Hartford,
Connecticut, in 1852, and is a son of Josiah
and Fannie A. (Hurlbut) Raymond. His father
was born in Connecticut in 1815, a son of
Joshua Raymond, who spent his life in that
state. Josiah Raymond was a man of bril-
liant parts, a prominent lawyer at Hartford
and also a farmer near that city, and for
some years served in the state legislature. He
died in Cfmnecticut in 1862. He was mar-
ried there to Fannie A. Hurlbut, who was born
in the same house as was Noah Webster, the
lexicographer, in which house her father, Sam-
uel Hurlbut, died. She came to Otoe county,
Nebraska, with her family, in 1879, bought
railroad land and died in 1889. Of the family
of seven children, the survivors are as fol-
lows : Robert O., a farmer near Gurley !
John F., an esteemed resident of ScottsbluiT ;
Fannie E., who lives at Scottsblufif; Charlotte
H., who also resides in this city ; and Henry
J., a farmer in Cheyenne county. Both par-
ents were members of the Presbyterian church.
John F. Raymond was educated in his na-
tive city and as a young man came to Nebras-
ka in 1878 and bought land in Otoe county,
removing in 1885 to Cheyenne county, where
he pre-empted land on which he continued to
live for many years. He engaged in general
farming and raised a large amount of stock,
becoming a well-known shipper. Mr. Ray-
mond was active in his farm industries until
he came to Scottsblufif county and retains
full ownership of his land, which is some of
the finest in Cheyenne county, but his invest-
ment in a tree claim on the edge of Scotts-
bluiT he subsequently sold to the sugar com-
pany of this city for $28,000. He owns con-
siderable realty in the city that he has under
favorable rental.
In November, 1'914, Mr. Raymdiid was
united in marriage with Mrs. Adelaide Dur-
ing, who was born at Milton, Illinois, a daugh-
ter of Charles and Mary (Davis) Chaplin.
Mrs. Raymond's mother is deceased, but the
father survives and resides at Pittsfield, Illi-
nois. He is a veteran of the Civil War, hav-
been wounded in the service of his country.
Of his eight children, there are but three sur-
vivors, Mrs. Raymond and her two sisters :
Mrs. Charles Johnson, of Pittsfield. and Miss
Nellie Chaplin, who resides with her father.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond are members of the
Presbyterian church. He has never had any
political ambitions, but, like his father before
him, has always believed in the sound prin-
ciples upon which the Republican party was
founded and has supported this organization.
REV. FRANK A. WOTEN, pastor of the
Christian church at Gering, Nebraska, is prob-
ably as well-known as any citizen of Scotts-
blufif county. He is a young man of versa-
tile gifts, of sound philosophy and vigorous
personality. While in no sense a crusader,
he carries his religion into the most practical
things of life, through example as well as
precept, proving the saving grace that follows
honorable industry and strict adherence to the
principles of law and justice. He is a native
of Nebraska, born in Gage county, December
5, 1883.
The parents of Dr. Woten were William I.
and Susan (Swaner) Woten, the former of
whom was bom in Jay county, Indiana, De-
cember 5, 1857, and the latter April 4, 1856.
The mother died in January, 1917, but the
father still resides on his Gage county home-
stead which he secured in 1881. Of his fam-
ily of nine children, Frank A. was the sec-
ond in order of birth, and four others survive :
Claude, who lives at Fresno, California, is
a National bank examiner ; Goldie, who re-
sides with her father; Sylvia, who also lives
at home; and Grace, the wife of Howard
Hall, a farmer near Wellfleet, in Lincoln
county, Nebraska. The father has followed
agricultural pursuits all his life. In politics
he is affiliated with the Democratic party. The
Christian church holds his membership.
Frank A. Woten grew up on the family
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
homestead near Adams, in Gage county, in
1903 being- graduated from the Adams high
school. In 1911 he was graduated from Cot-
ner University with the degree of A.B., later
took special work in astronomy at the State
University of Missouri, and completed his
theological course at Cotner. His first minis-
terial charge was Palmer, Nebraska, where he
remained two years, then went to Alliance and
during his term of two years there built up
the congregation and erected the first stucco
church edifice in Western Nebraska. He
then came to Scottsbluff as pastor of the First
Christian church, which charge he subse-
quently resigned and went to the southern
part of Sioux county, where he took up a
homestead, and while proving up, supplied the
church at Gering, and accepted the regular
pastorate of this church in the fall of 1918.
As a minister Reverend Woten exemplifies
his Christian faith in every possible way, but
he is a liberal-minded man and a strong advo-
cate of practical Christianity. The needs of
his congregation spiritually are well looked
after without encroaching too much on his
time, and he gives attention to a transporta-
tion business and operates an omnibus line
between Gering and Scottsbkifif, which carries
the mail between the two points.
In 1912 Mr. Woten was united in marriage
to Miss Lena Colborn, who was born at Palm-
er, Merrick county, Nebraska. They have
three little daughters, namely: Arlene, Paul-
ine and Frances, their ages ranging from five
to two years. Mr. Woten is a Democrat in his
political opinions. He belongs to the order of
Odd Fellows, and has served as chaplain of
the local lodge, and has also served in the
highest office of the local organization W. O.
W. The Woten name is of German origin,
but the ancestors of Reverend Woten have be-
longed to Great Britain since the Fifteenth
century.
FRANK L. FOREMAN, who is one of the
.substantial and representative farmers of the
Mitchell valley, has been a resident of this
great commonwealth for more than three
decades, so that his persimal experience covers
virtually the entire period marking the develop-
ment and progress of this now favored section
of Nebraska. He is a man born to the soil
who deserted it, but with the passing years
found no satisfaction in the turmoil of cosmo-
politan life and returned to a farm where kind
mother earth has given him a bountiful reward
for his labors.
Frank Foreman was born in McDonough
countv, Illinois, March 5, 1868, the son of
James and Hettie ( Lamb ) Foreman. The
father was a n,-itive of the Buckeye state, born
in Bellmont c( unity, in 1838, who died in Ger-
ing at the age of bixty-eight years. Hettie
Lamb was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848
and passed away in Nebraska in 1916, a wo-
man of great himor and warm heart There
were se\en children in the l'"urcnian f;iiiiily, of
whom Frank \va> the eldest: the ()llifr> were:
\\'illiam, a freighter at Therniopolib, Wyom-
ing; Elmer, a freighter at Big Trail, Wy-
oming; Zella, the wife of Leonard Early, lives
on the old homestead in Scottsbluff county;
Bessie, the deceased wife of Thomas Bracken;
one who died in infancy; and Charles, the '
second boy, who died in Missouri.
James Foreman was a barber by trade but
a farmer by vocation. He also had the honor
of being a member of the Union army during
the Civil War, enlisting in Illinois under Col-
onel Bob Inger.soll in the Eleventh Illinois Cav-
alry. He served four years and two months
during that memorable conflict, taking part in
many of the hardest fought battles of the war.
Twice his mount was shot from vmder him but
he lived to return home after the close of hos-
tilities.
Like so many men who had been in the army,
Mr. Foreman was not contented with the con-
ditions he had known before his service and
determined to avail himself of the opportuni-
ties afforded farther west. With his family
he came to Cheyenne county, Nebraska, in
1886, when that country was still unbroken
prairie, took up a homestead, proved up on it,
established a home, made good improvements
on his farm and there engaged in general agri-
culture and stock-raising for a number of
years. Later he retired and located in Gering
where he took an active part in communal af-
fairs. He was a member of the Grand Army
of the Republic, helping the other members in
the direction of the affairs of the local post,
while in politics he was a staunch supporter of
the Democratic party. The family were mem-
bers of the Christian church.
Frank Foreman received his educational ad-
vantages in the public schools of Illinois and
as usual with a boy on a farm assisted with
such work as his years and strength permitted
during the vacations. He grew to manhood
sturdy, resourceful, and self-reliant, all quali-
ties which stood him in good stead when he
accompanied the family to the new settlement
in Cheyenne county, where he also took up a
honu-!r,i.| Mil which he proved up, made many
impr. i\( iPi 111 - necessary in a frontier com-
muiiiiy. c^i.iMi-^hed a home and soon was en-
gaged in general farming and stock-raising.
He knew and overcame many of the hardships
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
and trials of a frontiersman, such as drought,
insect pests and lack of adequate machinery
for agricultural work, but none daunted him.
After some years Mr. Foreman was able to dis-
pose of his property to great advantage and left
the farm to locate in Gering, where he opened
and operated a barber shop, but the call of the
land was in his blood and he responded by pur-
chasing a farm in section 28-23-56, where
he is the proprietor of forty acres of highly
cultivated irrigated land on which he raises
beets and conducts a general truck farm. The
country looks very dilTerent today with its
green cover than did the prairies when Mr.
Foreman first located in the state, and he often
speaks of the great happiness that comes to the
farmer today with his insured crop no matter
what the weather conditions may be.
j\Ir. Moreman has ever been a man of active
mind, he takes interest in all questions of the
day entering actively into the civic life of the
community and had the honor of being a dele-
gate to the first county convention which locat-
ed the seat of justice of Scottsbluff county at
Gering. Independent all his life, it is but nat-
ural fhat this man should be independent in
politics and he draws no party line in casting
his vote directing his influence to the best man.
Fraternally he is connected with the Independ-
ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebeccas, and
the Woodmen of the World. There are seven
children in the happy Foreman family: Glen,
who has a ranch in Sioux county and a farm
in the Scottsbluff locality ; Loren, a teamster in
Mitchell; Ray, also living in Mitchell; Zeta,
Gwelda, and Wayne all at home. The family
are members of the Methodist church.
Mr. Foreman married at Hull, Nebraska,
Grace Beck, who was born in Indiana, but
reared in Nebraska from the age of ten years.
HENRY A. SCHMODE, who, as superin-
tendent of the plant of the Great Western
Beet Sugar Company at Scottsbluff, fills a
position of responsibility as he should, for he
is a highly trained man in this particular in-
dus:try in which he has had much practical
experience.
Henry A. Schmode was born in Silesia,
Germany, in 1870. His parents were Constan-
tine and Ernestina (Bleich) Schmode, natives
of Posen, Germany. Of their eight children
five survive, but only two of these live in the
United States. Henry A. and Frederick, the lat-
ter being a machinist at Denver, Colorado. The
father owned a woolen factory and employed
fifty-five men in producing broadcloth. The
parents were members of the Lutheran church.
After being graduated from the high school
in his home town. Henry A. Schmode served
two years in the German army, as was the
law. In 1893 he came to the United States
and located at Norfolk, Nebraska, and there
started the first Stefffn process in the United
States, and was superintendent of construc-
tion for one year, then went to California and
in the following year started the second Stef-
fin process plant in the United States, at
Chino, in San Bernardino county. He re-
mained there five years with the American
Beet Sugar Company. From there he came to
Grand Island, Nebraska, as master mechanic
of the factory of the same firm and continued
two years, then went toi Ames, Nebraska,
where he was associated with the Standard
Beet Sugar Company for one year as master
mechanic and for six years as superintendent
of the factory. Mr. Schmode's services were
then secured by the Great Western Sugar
Company and he was so connected at Fort
Collins for six months, then was master me-
chanic of the factory at Windsor, Colorado,
from which plant he came to Scottsbluff and
after superintending the construction of the
Great Western's plant here, became superin-
tendent and has continued his efficient service
in that capacity ever since.
At Norfolk, Nebraska, in 1897, Mr.
Schmode was united in marriage to Hulda
Mittelstadt, and they have three children,
namely : Mart C, who is employed in the
sugar factory; Edwin H. and Dorothy Irma,
both of whom are attending school.
Mr. Schmode and his family are members
of the Presbyterian church, of which he has
been a trustee for the past five years and
during 1918 was president of the board. He
is a Scottish Rite Mason and both he and
wife belong to the Eastern Star. In addition
to his scientific knowledge and executive effi-
ciency, Mr. Schmode is a broad-minded, in-
telligent man and a valuable citizen. He gives
his political support to the Republican party.
FRED ANSEN. — There were many resi-
dents of Scottsbluff county as well as other
sections in this state and in Colorado, who
knew, respected and esteemed the late Fred
Ansen, whose family is a valued one in the
county. He was an honest, upright, industri-
ous man, fulfilling every duty of life to the
best of his ability, injuring none and helping
many.
Fred Ansen was born in Alsace-Lorraine,
France. August 15, 1856. In 1881 he came to
the United States and for a year worked in
one of the big packing plants in Chicago, Illi-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
87
nois, but he was not satisfied there as he had
come to America in the hope of owning a
farm. This hope he fulfilled in 1882 by lo-
cating in Bufi^alo county, Nebraska, where he
secured a tract of land on which he lived
three years. He then had a chance to sell it
to advantage and went to Colorado, but on
the way through Cheyenne county, Nebras-
ka, stopped long enough to take up a home-
stead. He continued on his trip to Colorado
where he was employed as a cook in mining
camps until 1887, then returned to settle on
his homestead and remained seven years. In
the meanwhile he bought a farm in Mitchell
valley, Nebraska, and moved there in 1894,
and that farm remained the family home until
1905, when he came to Scottsbluft'. Here Mrs.
Ansen and the children remained while he
once more returned to work in Colorado. His
death occurred March 17 . 1909. He was a
Republican in politics, and both he and wife
were members of the Lutheran church.
In 1885 Fred Ansen was united in marriage
to Miss Theresa Siebke. who was born in Ger-
many, a daughter of John and Caroline
(Haase) Siebke, who spent their lives in Ger-
many. Mrs. Ansen came to the United States
in 1881 and was married in Buffalo county,
Nebraska. All of their six children are liv-
ing: Mable, Margaret, Charles, Maude and
May, twins, and Gladys. Maude is the wife
of Steward Rice, a farmer in ScottsblulT coun-
ty. The other daughters reside with their
mother at Scottsbluff. Charles Ansen, the
only son, entered military service in Septem-
ber, 1917, and crossed to Europe as a member
of the American Expeditionary Force and is
with the Army of Occupation yet in Germany.
He is a young man of fine qualities, and has
done his duty as a soldier.
WILLIAM S. CLINE, one of the retired
residents of Scottsblufif, has been one of the
substantial farmers and highly esteemed cit-
izens of Scottsbluff county for many years.
When he came first to this section he made
wise investments and now owns some of the
best farm land in the upper valley. He has
taken active and useful part in all civic and
commercial movements for the betterment of
the county, since making the Panhandle his
home.
William S. Cline was born in Hendricks
county, Indiana, February 27, 1857. the eldest
of a family of six children born to John F.
and Mary Jane (Goben) Cline. Both parents
were born in Indiana, from which state they
moved to Clark countv, Iowa, in 1866, where
the father bought a farm on which he and his
wife passed the remainder of their days. They
were members of the Christian church, most
worthy people in every relation of life. ' Wil-
liam S. Cline has two brothers and two sisters :
Francis Marion, lives retired at Scottsbluff;
Jesse Bennett, is a farmer in Iowa; Margaret,
is the wife of Andrew Adams, a farmer in
Iowa, and Rose, is the wife of Perl King, an
Iowa farmer.
William S. Cline attended the public schools
and was reared to farm pursuits. In 1905 he
came to Scottsbluff county and purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of land east of the
town and eighty acres where the sugar factory
now stands. He owns eighty acres of fine
irrigated land north of Scottsbluff that would
command a high price in the market if it were
for sale. It may not be out of place to say
that when Mr. Cline first came to Nebraska
he was practically without capital, but he had
the good judgment to take advantage of the
•opportunities offered here to a young man of
energy and industry, with the resuh that by
the time he had reached middle age he was
able to retire with a competency.
On November 11, 1883, Mr. Cline married
Miss Margaret Bevins, who was born in Iowa,
a daughter of Asher and Anna Bevins, the
former born in Highland county, Ohio, and
the latter in Delaware. They died in Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Cline have the following chil-
dren: Rose, the wife of C. C. Terhune. a rail-
road man at Omaha; Nellie, the wife of Otis
Simmons, a carpenter at Scottsbluff'; Millie,
the wife of Charles Bisel, of Scottsbluff; Wal-
ter, is a farmer but lives in Scottsbluff;
Homer, operates a garage in Scottsbluff, and
Lola, the wife of George Brown, who is em-
ployed in the sugar factory here. Mr. Cline
and his family are members of the Presby-
terian church. He is a Democrat in politics
and has always been a loyal party man but has
not been willing to accept public office. Since
1910 he has been a resident of Scottsbluff, a
welcome addition to the town's most reputable
citizenship.
EDWARD C. DUNHAM, who is a prom-
inent citizen of Scottsbluff county, and for
many yea_rs active in the agricultural field,
since 1917, when he retired and moved into
Scottsbluff, has given much attention to the
Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of
which he is president. Mr. Dunham was born
at St. Louis, Missouri, December 13, 1856.
The parents of Mr. Dunham were Cor-
nelius L. and Mary (Buswell) Dunham, the
former of whom was born at New Haven,
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Connecticut, and the latter in the state of Ver-
mont. He was a student at Jacksonville, Illi-
nois, and she. a graduate of Knox College, was
a teacher in the School for the Blind, when
they met and they were married in that city.
Later thev moved to St. Louis, Missouri,
where the father of Mr. Dunham taught school
for four years, then moved to Bureau county,
Illinois, where he engaged in farming until
1862. In that year he entered the Union army
for service in the Civil War as a member of
Company H. Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer
Infantry. His service covered three and a
half years, during which he was promoted to
a sergeancy. He participated in the siege of
Vicksburg and in the campaign around Chat-
tanooga and Memphis. Tennessee. After the
war closed he returned to his Illinois farm and
lived there until 1876 when he removed to
Grinnell, Iowa. He accumulated a compe-
tency and later he and wife gave themselves
the pleasure of extensive travel. They were
members of the Congregational church. In his
political views the father believed the prin-
ciples of the Republican party the most ad-
vantageous for the country and supported this
organization until the end of his Hfe.
Of the seven children born to Cornelius L.
Dunham and his wife, Edward C. was the eld-
est, the others being: Ida G., the wife of S. H.
Blackwell, a farmer near Longmont, Colo-
rado : Cornelius L., an orange grower in Flor-
ida ; Ralph W., a farmer in southwestern Mis-
souri ; E. H., a farmer near Grinnell, Iowa;
Alice C, the wife of J. R. Hannay, a farmer
near Grinnell, and Mary Cornelia, who still
lives in the old home at Grinnell, Iowa.
Edward C. Dunham was educated in Iowa
and carefully trained by his intellectual father.
From 1876 until 1896 he had entire charge of
his father's farm and afterward bought a part
of the old home place. In 1896 he moved to
Arkansas and was interested there until 18. .
in growing strawberries and apples, after
which he came to Scottsblut? county and
bought land in Pleasant Valley. In 1917 the
family left the farm and came into the city,
where they have a wide social circle and Mr.
Dunham gives time, as indicated above, to
the affairs of the Farmers Mutual Fire In-
surance Company, that does business in five
counties in the western part of the state. He
is also city assessor. Mr. Dunham located in
this county on a government unit as did his
daughter, so the family really owns two units.
The farm on which the family lived is now
devoted to grain and sugar beets and Mr. Dun-
ham also owns 173 acres, all of irrigated land,
and an additional tract near the city limits.
In 1881 Mr. Dunham was united in mar-
riage to Miss Hannah M. Mann, who was
bom in Oswego county. New York, a daugh-
etr of John H. and Susan (WilHs) Mann,
natives of New York, who moved to a farm in
Iowa in 1871, later to Iowa City for three
years and still later to Grinnell. Mrs. Dun-
ham was the fourth born in a family of six
children, five of whom are living. Mr. and
Mrs. Dunham have two sons and one daugh-
ter, namely: Dwight Mann, who homesteaded
in South Dakota; Robert E., who homestead-
ed in Nebraska, has been rural mail carrier
out of Scottsblufif for seven years, and Mary
Florence, who lives at home. Mr. Dunham
and his family belong to the Presbyterian
church. At one time while living in Iowa.
Mr. Dunham was quite active in the Populist
party but now he casts an independent vote.
He is a broad-minded, thoughtful man and
has always had the best interests of his coun-
try at heart.
WILLIAM W. EMICK. who is secretary
and treasurer of the Farmers Mutual Fire In-
surance Company, has been identified with this
important business enterprise since January,
1915, since which time he has devoted himself
largely to its concerns, although he has many
additional personal interests. He came to
Nebraska in early manhood, invested in land
in Scottsblufif county in 1909. and has been a
resident of Scottsblufif since 1918.
William W. Emick was born in Wayne
county. Ohio, April 22. 1872. and is a son of
Adam and Catherine (Sweigert) Emick, the
former of whom was born in Germany and
the latter in Pennsylvania. Adam Emick was
brought to the Uited States when two years
old, was reared in Ohio and married there.
Of his twelve children seven are living, two of
these being in Nebraska, William W. and
Charles, the latter of whom is a merchant at
Creighton. Adam Emick was a hard-working
man, was a farmer and a carpenter, whereby
he accumulated a competency. After his first
wife died he married Alice Okehauf and they
had three children, two of whom live in Ohio
and one at Chadron. Nebraska. In politics
Adam Emick was a Democrat, and all his life
he was a member of the German Lutheran
church. He lived to be ninety-four years old.
William W. Emick obtained his education
in the public schools in his native state and
remained assisting his father on the farm un-
til he was twenty years of age. He then came
to Knox county. Nebraska, and for three
years was a clerk in a store at Bazile Mills and
afterward at other points, also traveled as a
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Alva A. Smith and Family
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
89
canvasser and commercial agent. For nine
years he lived at Deadwood, South Dakota,
during which time he was engaged as collector,
clerk and general manager of stores there and
at Lead City. For one year he was on the
road selling groceries for the firm of Shank-
berg, of Sioux City, through the Big Horn
basin, when a railroad wreck in which he was
a victim, kept him of? the road for some time.
He then accepted his old position at Lead City,
following which he became traveling repre-
sentative of Raymond Bros. & Clark, through
Western Nebraska, for five years. Mr. Emick
then took charge of his brother's store in
South Dakota, for some eight months. In
1909 he came to Scottsbluff" county and bought
an irrigated farm, on which he lived until
1918, when he sold that property and moved
into Scottsbluff, where he has valuable realty.
He also owns a farm near the city.
In 1911 Mr. Emick was united in marriage
to Miss Myrtle Fry, who was born in Fall
River county. South Dakota. She died in 1914
leaving one infant daughter, Myrtle Josephine.
In the fall of 1917 Mr. Emick was married to
Miss Julia Coony who was bom in Custer
county, Nebraska, and they have one daugh-
ter, Willemetia. Mrs. Emick is a member of
the Christian church. In politics he is a Dem-
ocrat and fraternally belongs to the order of
Elks. In addition to being secretary and treas-
urer of the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance
Company, Mr. Emick has been general man-
ager of the work in Scottsbluff, Banner, Mor-
rill and Sioux counties, the company's charter
covering eleven counties in the Panhandle. A
man of wide and varied experience, Mr. Emick
is particularly well qualified for the responsible
position he fills so well in the business world.
ALVA A. SMITH. — It has often been said
that Smith is a name hard to distinguish, yet it
remains that the possessor of the name at the
head of this review has succeeded, at least in a
modest way, in distinguishing his cognomen in
the realm of ordinary citizenship and practical,
profitable farming. This is an ordinary story
that has been duplicated perhaps a thousand
times in western Nebraska, but it ever becomes
interesting when narrowed down to an individ-
ual whose achievements are wdrtliy nf being
published to the world. Mr. Smith i> uiic ni
the homesteaders of Scuti^liliilT cnuntx wli"
passed through many privatidiis and hanl'-hips.
courageously persevering in the face of dis-
couraging situations, overcoming seemingly in-
surmountable obstacles, and eventually win-
ning a way to well deserved success.
This man is a Wolverine by birth, born in
McComb county, Michigan, February 12, 1862,
amidst the throes of. our gnat Civil War and
it may be that some of the (ln--x-il determina-
tion that was imbued in the citizens of the
north to preserve the Union at all cost entered
into his mentality, for nothing has daunted his
spirit. He is the son of Andrew and Esther
(Arnold) Smith; the former born in the Em-
pire state in 1838, died in Michigan in 1899.
while the mother, like her son, was a native of
Michigan, born there in 1841, who lived until
1896. The father was a successful Michigan
farmer, who reared his family in great com-
fort, giving them all the advantages afforded in
their community, excellent educations, and
such practical knowledge as could be attained
under his careful guidance on the farm during
the vacations and after leaving school.
There were eight children in the family :
Iowa, who died at eighteen years of age; Alva;
Alma, his twin, who became the wife of Joe
Burgess, lived on a farm in the state of Mich-
igan, and later removed to Gering, and now
lives in Oregon ; Eugene, a farmer in Mich-
igan ; Florence, the wife of William Drink-
water of Michigan; Minnie, deceased; Lila, the
wife of Fred Drinkwater, also lives on a farm
in Michigan; and P'rances, the wife of George
Mc\'ittie, a government mail clerk, resides in
Detroit. Both the parents were members and
supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church,
while Mr. Smith took an active and prominent
part in the councils of the Republican party.
Mr. Siiiitii wi irked on a Michigan farm upon
reaching; tiianiii"Hl. but he heard of the great
opI)c>rtiiiiitic> afforded on the prairies of the
middle west and determined to put his fortune
to the hazard, and breaking all the home ties
and intimate associations, started for the Da-
kotas. He took plenty of time to look the
country over as he had determined that wher-
ever he located was to be a permanent home
and Dakdta did nut measure up to his standard
so he canu' t^ (.'heyenne county in 1887, where
he hciiiie'^tt-aded loO acres of land, preempted
another tract of equal acreage, proved up on it
and at the same time was engaged in making
permanent and efficient improvements. His
first home, like that of nearly all the pioneer
settlers, was a sod house, but Mr. Smith met
with success in his chosen vocation and before
long the sod structure gave way to a comfort-
able farm home. Later Mr. Smith removed
somewhat west and north of his first claim,
locating in section 32-23-56. Scottsbluff coun-
ty, in what is locally known as the Mitchell
valley, is today one of the garden spots of the
great state of Nebraska, that under modern
methods and intensive farming is producing
90
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
more to the acre than ever was dreamed in the
pioneer days when the Smith family located
here. Mr. Smith is one of the men of the
county who has made good use of his oppor-
tunities, and his life record illustrates what
may be accomplished by one who is industrious,
far-sighted, and has an ambition to succeed.
His harvests have been cut short by drought,
his crops ruined by hail and insect pests, but
he was never discouraged to the extent of giv-
ing up, and the succeeding years brought pros-
perity, and today he is the owner of 160 acres
of highly improved land, all under irrigation,
so that he never worries about the weather as
he is insured a crop with water a-plenty and
the never failing sunshine of this section. He
has substantial and practical farm buildings, a
good home and latest farm equipment, being
engaged in general agriculture and stock-
raising.
In 1891 Mr. Smith married Miss Alma Tap-
pan at Broken Bow, Nebraska, the daughter
of Bradford Tappan, both she and her father
being natives of Michigan. Five children have
become members of the Smith family : Floyd,
who died in infancy; Kem, on a farm in Wy-
oming; Eunice, the wife of Claud Godbey, is
at home, as are also Emmet and Craig.
Mr. Smith is one of the progressive business
men of Scottsblufif county, is public-spirited,
advocating every movement for the advance-
ment of the community, which is attested by
the fact that he is a school director and chair-
man of the irrigation board. A man of high
ideals in life and commercial aflfairs, he is held
in esteem by all his friends and associates. In
politics he is a Democrat, but has never had
the time or desire to hold public office, while his
fraternal associations are with the Odd Fellows
and Modern Woodmen.
JOHN SCHUMACHER. — To set down a
true history of Nebraska in all its counties,
mention must be made of those who came into
the state without capital, and through hard
work and great self denial finally became of
independent fortune because of ownership of
valuable lands. Some of these early settlers,
it is true, had not the courage to endure in-
evitable hardships and gave up before their
battles over storm, drought and loss of crops
and stock had been won, but there were others,
like the late John Schumacher, who held on,
worked harder, hoped for the best, and were
well rewarded.
John Schumacher was bom in Roxbury,
Dane county, Wisconsin, January 21, 1862.
He had school advantages near his father's
farm and worked as a farmer until he deter-
mined to start out for himself. That he was
a young man not easily discouraged may be
assumed from the fact that with practically
empty pockets, he walked the entire distance
from his old home in Wisconsin to Cheyenne
county, Nebraska. There he homesteaded in
what is now Scottsbluff county, six miles
southeast of the present town, and remained
on his farm, developing and improving it, until
the end of his life, his death occurring Novem-
ber 8, 1915. At that time he owned a section
of irrigated land. He made a specialty of
stock-raising and under his care this industry
proved very profitable.
In 1893 John Schumacher was united in
marriage with Miss Katie Gaugler, a school-
mate, who was bom in Dane county, Wiscon-
sin, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Retsler)
Gaugler, Mrs. Schumacher being the youngest
of their family of fifteen children, nine of
whom are living. Two daughters were born
to Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher : Helena, the
wife of Philo Tillson, a farmer north of Mina-
tare, Nebraska, and Elsie, who resides with
her mother and is attending school. Mrs.
Schumacher is, as was her husband, a member
of the Catholic church. On April 11, 1916, she
moved to Scottsbluff and purchased a beauti-
ful residence on Fourth avenue, but found it
too great a care to keep it up, hence sold and
now resides in great comfort at No. 1814 Fifth
avenue. Mr. Schumacher was a Republican in
politics and served on the school board in his
township. He was an honest, upright man and
was very highly regarded by all who knew him.
FRANK B. MORGAN, who has had quite
a great deal to do with the material develop-
ment of Scottsbluff'. is a leading builder and
contractor here, owner of valuable city realty
both unimproved and built upon. Since com-
ing here in 1914, he has shown personal and
public-spirited interest in the city, has invested
judiciously and has been an encourager of a
number of worthy enterprises.
Frank B. Morgan was born in Caldwell
county, Missouri, June 22, 1869, a son of
Joseph and Tabitha (Hobbs) Morgan, the lat-
ter of whom was born in Illinois and is now
deceased. The father of Mr. Morgan was
born at Indianapolis, Indiana, a son of George
Morgan, who was a native of Virginia. Joseph
Morgan was a soldier in the Civil War, enlist-
ing in the Fourteenth Missouri Infantry, served
three years and was wounded at Shiloh. After
a long period in a hospital, he reenlisted but
was soon afterward discharged on account of
disability. In 1883 he came to Nebraska and
bought a section of land in Furnas county,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
91
afterward selling the same and buying land in
Oklahoma. His death occurred at Beaver
City, Nebraska. He was a Democrat in pol-
itics. Both he and wife were members of the
Christian church. They had seven children,
Frank B. being the fourth of the five surviv-
ors, who' are: George R., a farmer near Hend-
ley, Nebraska ; Delilah, the widow of
Whiteman, of Hendley ; Thomas, a butcher in
business at Hendley, and Mary, the wife of
Roy Goebel, a farmer in Furnas county.
Frank B. Morgan obtained his education in
the public schools and afterward followed
farming until he was thirty years old. He had
always been deft in the use of tools and then
began to work at the carpenter trade, going to
Denver in 1901, and worked as a carpenter
there and at Fort Collins until 1905, when he
came to Morrill county, Nebraska. He se-
cured a homestead there, which he late sold,
then bought land in Wyoming and subsequent-
ly sold that. In 1914' he came to ScottsblufJ
and has proved a valuable citizen. He invest-
ed in vacant property here and through im-
proving it with attractive residences, has add-
ed greatly to the appearance of every section
in which he owns lots. He has found ready
sale for his houses, for the people of Scotts-
bluf¥ are homemakers, in the main, and his en-
terprise has been appreciated. Mr. Morgan
has assisted in the organization of the Com-
mercal Bank at ScottsbluiT.
In 1890 Mr. Morgan was united in marriage
to Miss Mary E. Martin, who was born in
Illinois, and is a daughter of John and Matilda
Martin. The mother of Mrs. Morgan died at
Stamford, in Harland county. Nebraska. The
father died at the home of a daughter in Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have had children as
follows: Mahlon C, who is a farmer in
ScottsblufY county ; Merlin O., who was honor-
ably discharged in February, 1919, from mili-
tary service in the World War, entered the
navy, was first located on the Pacific coast near
Seattle, Washington, then spent one year in
the Canal Zone, later was sent to New York
and was discharged at Brooklyn, as chief car-
penter ; Mable. who is a student in the high
school, and John and Audry, who are doing
well in their several grades in school. Mr.
Morgan and his family are members of the
Christian church. Fraternally he is a Mason
and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen.
He is not active politically and votes indepen-
dently.
CHARLES S. SIMMONS, who finds his
time fully occupied with the work of his pro-
fession, sign painting, can show a large amount
of fine, artistic work from his brush at Scotts-
bluff, in which city he painted his first sign,
in April, 1900.
Charles Sheldon Simmons belongs to an old
countv family and was born near Scottsbluflf,
Nebraska. May 20, 1887. He is a son of
Charles H. Simmons, extended mention of
whom will be found in this work. Mr. Sim-
mons attended the public schools. Very early
he displayed talent with pencil and brush and
after learning the painting trade, decided to
specialize on sign painting. This branch of the
business requires not only practical knowledge
but real skill and Mr. Simmons went to Chi-
cago and entered a class in the Art Institute,
where he remained a year, securing necessary
technical training as well as artistic inspira-
tion. His work is very much admired and his
services are in constant demand.
In 1897 Mr. Simmons was united in marriage
to Miss Estella M. Snyder, who was born at
Garrison, Iowa, a daughter of Edward H. and
Belinda (Hilka) Snyder. They were born in
Pennsylvania. The father of Mrs. Simmons
is engaged in truck fanning near Sterling, Ne-
braska. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have two chil-
dren, namely : Cleo, who is seven years old,
and Charles, who is a babe of eight months.
Mr. and Mrs. Simmons are active members of
the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a
■zealous Republican, and fraternally he is iden-
tified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern
Woodmen, and the A. F. & A. M.
AUGUST DORMANN, who is a well
known business man of Scottsblufif, where his
beautiful residence and other property are
located, for a number of years has been identi-
fied with commercial enterprises of large im-
portance here and elsewhere.
August Dormann was bom at Wisner, Ne-
braska, in 1877. He is a son of August Dor-
mann, who was bom in Germany, came to the
United States, has been a merchant all his life,
and now resides at Denver, Colorado. At
Omaha, Nebraska, he was married to Freder-
ick A. Kemenbley, who was born in New Jer-
sey, February 9, 1851, and died February 28,
1910. Of their five children August is the
fourth in order of birth, the others being:
Agnes, the wife of William Reisendorfor, a
lumber merchant in California ; George W.,
foreman of the Skinner & Eddy shipbuilding
plant at Seattle, Washington; Anna, resides
with' her father, and Fred, a consulting en-
gineer at Denver. The family is of the Lu-
theran faith. In politics the father is a Re-
publican. He was one of the first three men
to take out policies in the New York Life In-
92
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
surance Company, in Nebraska, and is the
only survivor of the three.
August Dormann obtained his educational
training in the public schools of Wisner, after
which he was associated with his father in the
mercantile business until 1906 when he came
to Scottsbluft' county. He bought a farm on
which he resided two years, then took charge
of the Zoellner clothing store at Scottsblulf,
which he managed for five years. On retiring
from that connection he went into business of
buying and selling mercantile stocks, in which
he continued until 1916, when he organized the
August Dormann Company, for the purpose
of buying farms and ranches for sale or trade.
Early in 1919 he bought all the company's in-
terests with the result that he owns many acres
of fine land in Michigan, South Dakota, and
western Nebraska. He now devotes himself
to his large farming interests.
In 1899 Mr. Dormann was united in mar-
riage to Miss Katherine O'Connor, who was
born at Wisner, Nebraska, and they have had
the following children bom to them: Charles
Augi:st, who was born December 23, 1900, en-
tered military service in January, 1917. and is
a member of a hospital corps now stationed in
the Philippine Islands ; George Eugene, who
was born October 4, 1902; Genevieve Ruth,
who was born May 3, 1904 ; Jerome Wilbur,
who was born August 11, 1908, and Katherine
Virginia, who was born July 7, 1911, and two
deceased; Victor Hugo, and Herald. Mrs.
Dormann and the children belong to the Cath-
olic church. Mr. Dormann is a Republican in
politics and is a Mason in good standng.
JOHN W. BROSHAR for many years was
well known in Nebraska, and his honorable
name is preserved by a surviving famliy of
Scottsbluff. He was a native of Ripley coun-
ty, Indiana, born May 7, 1845. His parents
moved to Champaign, Illinois, in 1852, and
Mr. Broshar was educated there and from that
town enlisted and served during the thirteen
closing months of the Civil War. After leav-
ing the army he began business independent-
ly as a farmer in Illinois and continued agri-
cultural pursuits until 1888, when he came with
his family to the Panhandle, took up a home-
stead in Box Butte county, and lived on this
farm for a number of years, then took a Kin-
kaid claim near the line of Sioux county. His
death occurred at Canton, Nebraska, Febru-
ary 6, 1913.
At Paris, Illinois, in 1875, John W. Broshar
was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Wag-
goner, who was born in Fayette county, Ohio,
and is a daughter of E. D. and Elizabeth
F. (Bush) Waggoner. Mrs. Broshar's father
was born in Virginia and the mother in Ohio.
They moved to Illinois in 1864 and both died
there. Mrs. Broshar was the eldest of their
four children. To Mr. and Mrs. Broshar
three daughters were born ; Pearl, the wife of
Arthur Barr, a farmer near Melbeta, in Scotts-
bluff county; Myrtle, the widow of Henry
Safiford, resides at Scottsbluff, and Edith, who
resides with her mother, is connected with the
Irrigation Bank.
Following her husband's death, Mrs. Bro-
shar displayed business capacity by securing a
homestead for herself and resided on her prop-
erty until 1915, when she came to Scottsbluff
and is now enjoying the comforts of a beau-
tiful home at No. 1601 Fourth avenue. The
family belongs to the Baptist church. Mr.
Broshar was a man of sterling character. He
was successful as a farmer and stockraiser,
and took considerable interest in public mat-
ters in Republican political circles in Box
Butte county, although he never consented to
accept public office.
ALBERT W. PETERSON, who is one of
the quiet, industrious, useful business men of
Scottsbluff, has been a resident of this city
since the spring of 1915, but has lived in Ne-
braska since he was five years old. He is a
carpenter and contractor who has built up a
large business and has the reputation here and
elsewhere of business integrity and depend-
ability.
Albert W. Peterson was bom at Princeton,
Illinois, April 14, 1880, and is the oldest of
seven children born to Nels W. and Anna C.
(Swanson) Peterson, both of whom were
born in Sweden and came young to the United
States. They were married at Princeton, Illi-
nois, where he was foreman for the Brv-ant
Nursery Company for nine years. In 1885
Nels W. Peterson brought his family to Ne-
braska and bought land near Aurora, in Ham-
ilton county, on which he has lived ever since,
at the present time owning 320 acres of fine
land. He is an example of the citizenship of
Nebraska that has prospered within her wel-
coming borders through faithful and law-
abiding industrj', for he came here from Illi-
nois not only without capital but burdened
with debt. He has worked hard but feels well
repaid. He has never been active in politics,
has always favored prohibition legislation, and
in casting his vote as a citizen, gives his sup-
port to candidates he believes will unselfishly
do their best, irrespective of party policy, for
the country. He and wife are members of the
Swedish Mission church.
21
%4
j> ' '~S^k
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
93
After his school days were over in Hamilton
county, Albert W. Peterson worked as a farm-
er and also as a carpenter, early showing skill
with tools, and continued to live in Hamilton
county until March, 1915, when he came to
this city, the rapid settlement of which and
expansion of industries, oftered abundant op-
portunity for his line of work. He has done
a great deal of substantial building here and
gives all his time to carpentering and contract-
ing. Formerly he owned a farm in the east-
ern part of ScottsblulY county, but this he sold
in the spring of 1919. He has property in the
city which includes a comfortable and ex-
tremely attractive residence at No. 2008 Ave-
nue A, a beautiful home.
Mr. Peterson was married February 24,
1906, to Miss Mina Hanson, who lived at Chi-
cago, Illinois, and is a daughter of Hans Han-
son and his wife, who spent ther entire lives
in Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are mem-
bers of the Swedish Mission church and great-
ly interested in its various avenues of benev-
olence. Like his father, Mr. Peterson prefers
to be independent in politics.
JOHN EXGSTROAI. — This representa-
tive agriculturist and stock-grower of Scotts-
bluff county lias been a resident of Nebraska
for nearly twenty-seven years and by making
use of the advantages here offered he has made
his way forward to the goal of independence
and marked prosperity. Today he is the owner
of 160 acres of the finest property in the west-
ern part of the state. Mr. Engstrom is one
of the sterling citizens here who has had the
prescience and energy to make the most of
the opportunities offered in connection with
civic and material development and progress.
He is a native of Sweden, th:it land which has
furnished this great cnuiitry ^o many of its
earnest and progressive men nf affairs. His
natal day was May 20, 1859, being the son of
Swan and Louise (Carlson) Engstrom, both
of whom were Scandinavians, born in Sweden.
Both parents were vigorous and sturdy, the
father living to the advanced age of seventy-
four years and the mother to seventy-six years
of age. John's father was a farmer, but as
land allotments are not large in Swiilcii he
learned the shoe-maker's trade, in \\ hicli he was
engaged a part of the time. There were six
children in the family but only three brothers
broke the home ties to begin a career in Amer-
ica : Gustav, Emil, and John, whn l.indr.l in
the United States in 1882; Gustav sub-cnieni-
ly returned to the mother cnuntr\ , but John
remained, determined to win a wa\' ui the great
west. Emil died in Kansas. He has been in
the greatest sense the architect of his own for-
tunes and few men have played a more sturdy
part in the development of the communities in
which they lived. Both civic and industrial
lines have been benefitted by the interest dis-
played in thcni by this young Swede, who soon
after (umiiiL; l^ llii^ i;reat land went to St.
I'aul. M iiiiii-.i ii,i, whirc so many of his coun-
trymen liail e^iahli^lK'(| hcjmes. He soon found
employment in Minnesota but later went north,
being employed by a railroad in Canada for a
considerable period before deciding to become
an owner of Land, the great desire of nearly all
men who came to .\merica fmni Europe. With
this idea in mind he came to Nebraska and soon
had tiled on a claim in Sidney \'alley, Chey-
enne county, lie proved up on this land, living
there six years before removing to ScottsblufT
county, purchasing 160 acres of land in section
15, forty-five acres being under ditch. Mr.
Engstrom has proved himself one of the
world's constructive workers and in the fur-
therance of his own prosperity has aided in the
civic and material development and progress of
the country and state of his adoption and as
one of the prosperous representatives of the
western section of this great commonwealth
deserves recognition in this history.
Mr. Engstrom first married Anna Carlson
in Sweden ; to this union five children were
born: Carl J., who lives at home; Gustav A.,
deceaseil: Aiiii.i, the wife of Otto Swanson, a
farmer in Scoftstiluff county, and Betty Louise,
now living in Chicago, For his second wife
Mr. hjigstrom married .Ada Carlson, also a
native of Sweden, and they have one daughter,
Hilda Carlson, who is at home. The family
are members of the Swedish l\lission church,
Mr. Engstrom is a man of sterling character
and ability, so he has been called upon to serve
as a school director, an office in which he has
made a record for liberality and progressive-
ness as he takes great interest in the welfare of
his community and the prosperity and happi-
ness of the rising generation. Politically he is
an independent, believing that the man best
fitted to hold office should be elected.
Mr. Engstrom sold his farm in 1919 and
moved to Scottsbluff where he has bought
property. He worked for fifteen years to
make his farm one of the best improved prop-
erties in the county and deserves much credit
for what he has accomplished.
ALBERT PAXTON, for several years one
of the active and energetic men engaged in
handling real estate at Scottsbluff, is well
known as a handler of realty and other activ-
ities in the middle west, and also owns some
94
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
very valuable farm land near Henry, in
Goshen county, Wyoming. Mr. Paxton was
born at Rensellaer, Jasper county, Indiana,
August 27, 1867, the son of William F. and
Isabella (Sharpe) Paxton, the former born
at Bedford and the latter at Johnstone, Penn-
sylvania. They were married in that state,
then moved to Ohio and later .settled in In-
diana, where they lived out the allotted span
of life. Of their family of eight children two
reside in the West, Ralph and Albert, the for-
mer of whom owns and operates the Paxton
hotel at Torrington, Wyoming, and also owns
a farm in that vicinity. The father was a
farmer in Jasper county and was active in the
Democratic party of that section. Both par-
ents were members of the Methodist Epis-
copal church.
Albert Paxton was given educational op-
portunities in his youth, his father being a
man of education himself. The young man
began his business life as a clerk in a store at
Montpelier, Indiana, and later, for a number
of years was manager of the New York Store
Company in that city. He became prominent
in Democratic party circles, was recognized
as a man of civic influence, was elected to the
city council of Montpelier and served as pres-
ident of that body. In 1908 Mr. Paxton came
west to Wyoming, locating at Torrington,
where for a number of years he engaged in
the live-stock business, being an extensive
buyer of horses, on one occasion buying seven
carloads in a month, at Henry, Nebraska. In
1917 he embarked in the real estate business
at ScottsbluiY and still owns his handsome res-
idence here, although recently he has trans-
ferred his real estate business to Torrington,
Wyoming, where he is associated with G. E.
Gannon. They are doing an extensive busi-
ness in general real estate, farm loans and
insurance.
In 1894 Mr. Paxton married Miss Anna
Bebout, who was born in Indiana, and they
have two children : Albert E. and Melva, aged
respectively seventeen and thirteen years.
The family belongs to the Methodist Epis-
copal church. He is identified with the
Knights of Pythias.
LIGGETT FURNITURE CO. — A recent
business enterprise at Scottsbluff that may
confidently be expected to be of substantial
importance to the city, is the furniture and
house furnishing goods store established here
May 24, 1919, by Clarence D. and Dwight W.
Liggett, under the firm name of Liggett Fur-
niture Co. Both members of the firm are
men of business experience and of the highest
possible personal character.
Clarence D. Liggett was born in 1884 and
Dwight W. Liggett in 1890, both in Union
county, Ohio. Their parents are John W. and
Mary (Hardy) Liggett, both natives of Ohio,
the father born in 1852 and the mother in
1853. In addition to the two sons mentioned,
they have two others, namely: Raymond H.,
who is connected with the Mid-west Con-
struction Company, and James Bruce, who,
since his military service overseas ended, has
been associated with his father in business at
Fort Morgan, Colorado. He was in the
Thirty-sixth Division in France and was
wounded in the battle before Compiegne, but
fortunately not fatally and has been recently
welcomed home. The paternal grandfather
was John Liggett, who was born in Virginia,
moved to Ohio and spent the rest of his life
there. The maternal grandfather, W. D, Har-
dy, was born in Scotland, came to the United
States and died on his farm in Greene county,
Ohio. When John W. Liggett left Ohio, he
was ready to invest and enter into business at
some favorable location in a western state and
he selected Fort Morgan, Colorado, where he
went into the furniture business and has con-
tinued there ever since. He is a Republican
in politics and both he and wife are members
of the United Presbyterian church.
Clarence D. Liggett was educated at Cedar-
ville College, in Ohio. He began his business
career as proprietor of a bicycle shop at Fort
Morgan, and later became associated with his
father at that point in the furniture business
and still owns a half interest in the store there.
He then entered into partnership with his
brother at Scottsbluft', in 1919, and already the
firm has an established place and firm standing
in the city's commercial life. In 1912 he was
united in marriage to Miss Blanche Coulter, a
native of Iowa, but at that time a resident of
Colorado, and their little daughter Helen is
four years old, and a son, Howard Dean, born
November 21, 1919.
Dwight W. Liggett was educated at Cedar-
ville College in Ohio. In 1913 he came to
Scottsbluff, where he was interested in the
Mid-West Concrete Construction Company,
but sold his interest to his brother and in the
spring of 1918 established the Liggett Furni-
utre Co., at Antioch, Nebraska, and Mr. Lig-
gett came back to ScottsbluiT and the present
business was founded here May 24, 1919. In
1915 Mr. Liggett was married to Miss Lona
Smith, who was a school teacher at Lodgepole,
Cheyenne county, Nebraska, but a native of
Iowa, and they have a little daughter of eigh-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
95
teen months whom they have named Dorothy
Dell. Dwight W. Liggett is a member of the
Presbyterian church at Scottsbluff, and Clar-
ence D. Liggett belongs to the United Presby-
terian church at Fort Morgan. The brothers
are Republicans in their political affiliation and
both are men of sterling worth.
MILTON E. HARRIS. — One of the lead-
ing business men of the Platte valley is found
in Milton E. Harris, rancher and cattle feeder,
and also proprietor of the most extensive meat
business in the section west of Lincoln. Mr.
Harris came to Scottsbluiif in the spring of
1907 and his immense business is the result of
his energy and good business judgment. Mr.
tiarris is a self-made man, starting out for
himself at the age of eleven years and has
fought his way steadily upward with the old
watchwords of industry and perseverance ever
in mind.
Milton Evan Harris was born in Hancock
county, Illinois, August 12, 1879, and is a son
of John G. and Jane (Latham) Harris and the
youngest of eight children. Both parents were
born in Ohio, later were residents of Illinois,
and the mother died subsequently at Cedar
Rapids, Igwa. The family was established at
Brush, Colorado, in 1901, where the father
served in some town offices, and died at that
place in February, 1902. Three of his mother's
brothers were soldiers in the Civil War. He
was a Republican in politics and both he and
wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal
church. All through life his business was
farming but his efforts did not bring great
financial independence.
When eleven years old ]\Iilton E. Harris
started to work for Dr. Martin for his board
and attended school at La Harpe, Illinois, and
two terms after 1893 at Ray, Colorado. At the
latter place he worked in a butcher shop for
two years, then went on a ranch and was em-
ployed near Ray on a ranch for about two
years. He then worked in a brother's meat
shop at Brush, Colorado, for two years, fol-
lowing which, in May, 1907, he came to Scotts-
blufif and bought a meat shop here. Mr. Har-
ris prospered from the first and has continued
to prosper, as indicated by the report of busi-
ness for the year of 1907 showing its amount
as $9,862.15 and the acknowledgment that
since then it has amounted to $125,000 per
year. To provide facilities for such expan-
sion, Mr. Harris erected a handsome building
of brick construction, on Broadway, with di-
mensions 26 X 140 feet with fine basement, 7
feet high and 124 feet long in which every
modern improvement is installed and all de-
vices for the sanitary handling and preparation
of meats provided. Wherever the "T. H. S."
trademark is seen, representing the Harris
Sanitary market, his patrons, and people at
large, feel confident as to the quality of meat
and produce appearing under this style. As
manager Mr. Harris has his brother-in-law,
George Hillerege, an old experienced meat
man, entire efficiency marking every detail of
the business. Mr. Harris owns a fine ranch
near Scottsblufif and feeds from 500 to 800
cattle and hogs.
In politics Mr. Harris votes the Republican
ticket but gives the greater part of his time to
his business affairs rather than public matters.
He is identified with the order of Odd Fellows.
He married, April 30, 1901, Miss Helen
Dow, a native of Jo Davies county, Illinois.
They have three children : Beulah, Chas. L.,
and Emmett G.
OTIS \y. SIMMONS, who is a member of
the contracting firm of Simmons Brothers, at
Scottsbluff'. is exceedingly well known in the
construction line here, and is numbered with
the city's active and representative citizens in
many ways. Mr. Simmons was born at North
Bend, Dodge county, Nebraska, September 16,
1885. and is a son of Charles H. Simmons,
extended mention of whom will be found in
this work.
Otis W. Simmons attended his first school
in Scottsbluff, held in one of the primitive sod
houses very numerous in his boyhood days all
through the newly settled sections of the West,
later had advantages at Gering, and in 1903
was graduated from the high school of Scotts-
bluff. He then learned the carpenter trade and
about that time became greatly interested in
amateur photography, which he still sometimes
engages in as a recreation, owning many pic-
tures of artistic value taken all through the
beautiful Platte valley. In .... Mr. Simmons
became associated with his brother. W
L. Simmons in the contracting business and
they have done a large amount of substantial
residence building here, at the present time
having ten residences in course of construction
and giving steady employment to five skilled
men. The firm enjoys the reputation of per-
fect reliability and their work is constantly in-
creasing in volume.
In 1907 Mr. Simmons was united in mar-
riage to Miss Nellie G. Cline, who was bom
at Osceola. Iowa, and is a daughter of W. S.
Cline. extended mention of whom will be
found on another page of this work. Mr. and
Mrs. Simmons have two children, namely:
Helen, who was born February 25, 1909, and
96
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Harold, who was born August 11, 1911. Mr.
and Mrs. Simmons are members of the Pres-
byterian church. Mr. Simmons is in active
membership with the Knights of Pythias and
the Modern Woodmen, has passed the chairs
and has represented the local lodge in the
Grand Lodge on three occasions, and has
served almost continuously since 1905 as keep-
er of records and seal. Mr. Simmons is an
earnest and straightforward citizen, ever ready
to do his part in bringing about the best of
conditions. Politically he is a Republican.
DANIEL D. DAVIS, who is one of Scotts-
bluff's most esteemed retired citizens, has long
been identified with the substantial develop-
ment and material progress of this city and
county. He is widely known, as he came to
Nebraska in 1884 and homesteaded in Scotts-
bluflf county in 1886. This section has been
his chosen home ever since, where many marks
of public confidence have been shown him, and
where mutual and sincere regard has followed
the acquaintanceships of years. Mr. Davis
was born on Catawba Island, Ottawa county,
Ohio, March 7, 1859, the son of Captain
Daniel N. and Sarah (Prentiss) Davis. The
father was born on Long Island, New York,
and followed a seafaring life, being captain of
a sailing vessel on Lake Erie at the time he
was attacked by a highway robber and mur-
dered for his money, while on a visit on land,
in November, 1868. The Davis family was
reared in the Baptist church by a good mother.
Captain Davis was active in politics long ago
and was a Democrat until the party accepted
the candidacy of C. L. Vallandigham, who had
favored the cause of the Confederacy during
the war in which his own son had suffered,
when he changed his political views entirely
and became a Republican.
Daniel D. Davis, on account of the early
loss of his father, had fewer educational ad-
vantages than otherwise, and when twelve
years old spent one hard winter working in
the northern woods. Following that season he
assisted his brothers in their fishing industries,
which they carried on at Willoughby and
Wicklifife, Ohio, remaining with them about
five years. In 1884 he came to Nebraska and
went to work for a brick manufacturing com-
pany near Lincoln, then opened a little store in
the town, and struggled on as a youth does
who has but little capital and is entirely de-
pendent upon his own resources. On March
1, 1886, Mr. Davis came to Scottsbluff county
and immediately filed on a homestead claim,
building his own little dugout on his land and
making himself as comfortable as possible. In
the meanwhile he had impressed his neighbors
so favorably that in 1889 they had him ap-
pointed deputy county clerk when the county
organized and he served in that office for a
year, and having read law, he was admitted
to the bar. Mr. Davis then returned to his
homestead, which he had been improving and
developing. In later years he became an im-
portant factor in Republican politics in the
county, forwarding by his influence many
movements of importance and accepting re-
sponsibilities when he believed such a course
would be beneficial for the community. He
served four years as county assessor.
In January, 1891, Mr. Davis married Miss
Frances E. Brown, a lady of unusual intellect
and educational prominence. Mrs. Davis was
boni at Sidney, Iowa, a daughter of James N.
and Lois (Clark) Brown, the former born in
Canada and the latter in Michigan. They had
seven children and Mrs. Davis is the youngest
of the five survivors. She attended school at
Sidney and Hamburg. Iowa, and after being
graduated from the high school at Tabor, in
1889 came to Nebraska and engaged in teach-
ing school at Madison, returning then to Iowa.
In 1890 she was elected the second superin-
tendent of the schools of Scottsblufi' county
and served ably in this responsible position for
two years. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two
children, Edwin P. and Alice E. Edwin P.
Davis was born April 22, 1897, attended school
at Minatare, Nebraska, and was graduated at
Ames, Iowa. He volunteered June 5, 1917, in
Company E. Fifth Nebraska National Guards,
was in training at Camp Cody, was transferred
to the One Hundred Thirty-fourth Infantry,
and accompanied the American Expeditionary
Forces to France in October, 1918. and re-
mained in Europe in the Army of Occupation
for twenty-five months. During this time
Mr. Davis served in Company K, Forty-
seventh Infantry, Fourth Division, during the
World War, marched into Germany with the
American Army of Occupation, and after the
armistice was stationed at Addrian, Reniogen
and Coblenz, Germany until relieved and re-
turned home, being honorably discharged at
Camp Dodge, Augiist 4. 1919'. Alice E., the
one daughter of the family, is a graduate of
the Scottsblufi" high school and is attending
college at Ames, Iowa. Mrs. Davis is a mem-
ber of the Presbyterian church and is actively
interested in social questions of the day and
in various charities that appeal to her benev-
olent impulses. Mr. and ]\Irs. Davis suffered
a severe bereavement in the death of his sister,
who was the wife of the late Edwin F. Moul-
ton, a noted educator, superintendent of
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
schools of Cleveland, Ohio, and at time of
death was president of the board of trustees
of the Kent State Normal School. Mrs. Moul-
ton was very prominent in club life and at the
time of her death, in 1911, was chairman of
the civics department of the Federation of
Women's Clubs.
From the earliest date of agitation looking
toward the great irrigation project, Mr. Davis
has been actively and intelligently interested
and served as secretary of the first meeting
called to consider ditch construction, and for
some time was secretary of the Beard ditch,
now the nine mile ditch. He was equally alert
concerning other worthy enterprises, was a
member of the North Platte Water-users As-
sociation for seven years and was secretary of
the first Beet Growers Association. In 1916
Mr. Davis sold his farm and bought a com-
fortable and attractive residence in Scotts-
bluff. He is identified with the Odd Fellows
and the Knights of Pythias, and serves on
many committees looking to the public good.
Men like Daniel D. Davis never find a retired
life useless or lonesome.
There is an interesting historical record of
the first Davis in this country. He was Capt.
Dolor Davis, who came from England in 1634.
He had land granted him in 1659, near Con-
cord, was prominent in matters affecting the
Plymouth colony, and followed the useful
trades of carpenter and surveyor.
JOHN A. JONES, a native son of the Sun-
flower state, while he is a comparative new-
comer in Scottsbluff county, where he took up
his residence in 1900, has succeeded in firmly
establishing himself in a position of prominence
in agricultural circles, as well as in the con-
fidence of his many friends and associates.
When he entered upon indejiendent commer-
cial life he was possessed of little save inherent
ability and the determination to succeed, and
these have been sufficient to enable him to gain
a comfortable fortune and fine landed prop-
erty.
John Jones was born in Kansas, January 15,
1860, the son of D. B. and Margaret (Cowen)
Jones, the former a sturdy son of New Eng-
land, who came west at an early day to take
advantage of the opportunity of acquiring land
in the new territory opened for settlement dur-
ing slave days. The children in the family
numbered fourteen, eleven of whom are still
living: Laura, married Herman Goft'erth and
now lives in Emerson, Iowa; Ella, the wife of
Roswell Crossett of Spokane, Washington;
Anna, married Henry Hawk, of Oregon; Ar-
thur, a resident of Burns, Oregon ; Florrie and
William live in Scottsbluff county; Fred lives
in Buffalo county; Alice, the wife of George
Veal, of Buffalo county; Addie, the wife of
Thomas Wells, lives in Stapleton, Nebraska.
Mary, Hettie and Frank are dead. The Jones
family removed from Kansas to Illinois, then
to Iowa, and from there to Buffalo county,
Nebraska, and it was there that John received
the education afforded by the public schools,
leading the life of a boy on a frontier farm,
gaining experience in agricultural life from
direct association with it, and many a good
lesson is thus learned in the hard but sure
school of experience, lessons never to be for-
gotten in later life. Mr. Jones was a mature
man of forty when he determined to take ad-
vantage of new country and located in Scotts-
bluff county in 1900. buying eighty acres of
land on which he has since made his home. He
is a sincere advocate of intensive farming with
irrigation and his marked success in this line
may well be followed by those of less experi-
ence. When he arrived in the western section
of the state the only improvement on the land
was a sod and log house of some early settler ;
this was entirely inadequate to his use and for
his family and within a short time he had a
large comfortable residence erected, to which
he may point with pride.
All of his land is imder irrigation which in-
sures crops no matter what the weather con-
ditions. Mr. Jones is engaged in general farm-
ing and dairying but devotes special time and
attention to his bees, making such a success and
specialty of this side-line that one year he
shipped three tons of honey, which at present
prices means a comfortable income. Because
of his apiary. Mr. Jones has become known far
and near as "Honey" Jones, a title in which he
takes no small pride. He is a tireless worker
and engages in any industry that promises a
worthy recompense, as eleven years he has
supplied Scottsbluff with ice and another year
in addition to his regular farm undertakings,
milked seventeen cows. He has a keen, shrewd
brain, is far-sighted, and these qualities added
to hard work are safe and sure landmarks
along the highway to fortune. On June 1,
1887. Mr. Jones married Ida M. Tottersman,
a native of Indiana, and to this union five chil-
dren have been born: Mabel, married Earl
Enes of Ba\ard. Nebraska ; Roy A., who lives
next to the home place ; Inia. the wife of James
Chris Lynch, living at Lingle, Wyoming;
Hazel, the wife of J. H. Cassidy, also a resi-
dent of Lingle, Wyoming; and B. W., who is
at home.
When the Jones family first came to Nebras-
ka they made the trip in a prairie schooner to
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Bufifalo county, encountering all the dangers
and sharing all the hardships incident to set-
tlers in the new country, but they had been
reared to some privations and soon were too
busy establishing the new home to think of
mere comforts that they knew soon would be
theirs. \\ hen ]\Ir. Jones removed to Scotts-
bluff cdunty he followed the same method his
father had and drove overland in a covered
wagon, though it was not a necessity, as at the
time of the first trip. Since then he has seen
all the wonderful progress and material devel-
opments that have taken place in this great
commonwealth in over a half century and to-
day may sometimes be induced to recount some
of the early experiences he and the family had
when first arrived west of the great Muddy,
as the ^Missouri river was known. Having a
keen, preceptive, and retentive mind these
stories of pioneer days are not only interesting
but instructive. Mr. Jones is an independent
thinker on all subjects pertaining to the civic
and political life of his section and the nation
and it but follows that he is an independent in
politics ; is a public-spirited citizen and an all-
American.
ROBERT HAXBY, who is a highly re-
spected resident of Scottsblufif, a retired farm-
er of ample means and possessed of the good
judgment and experience that make him a wise
and prudent advisor on many questions of
civic importance, is a native of Iowa, born in
Dubuque county, in 1852, came to Nebraska in
1871 and to this pleasant, healthful little city
in 1916.
The parents of Mr. Haxby were William
arid Dorothy (Bradley) Haxby, both of whom
were born in the same neighborhood in York-
shire, England. Shortly after their marriage
they came to the United States, settled in
Iowa and there he followed his trade of wag-
onmaker and wheelwright until the end of his
life. After his death, the mother of Mr. Hax-
by came to Nebraska and died in this state.
Of their seven children Robert is one of the
three survivors, the others being; John, a re-
tired farmer living at Fremont, Nebraska, and
Mary, the wife of Joseph Smith, who is a re-
tired farmer living at Cedar Blufifs, Nebraska.
The parents were most worthy people in ever}'
relation of life, and they were faithful mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Robert Haxby began life on a farm and con-
tinued to be interested in agricultural pursuits
during his entire active life. In 1871 he came
to Saunders county, Nebraska, bought land
that he has never parted with, and at the pres-
ent time has 154 acres, which command $300
an acre. Mr. Haxby has been unusually suc-
cessful in all his undertakings and has been
numbered with the solid men of the Platte
valley. In 1916 he moved to Scottsblufif with
the hope that this city's even climate might be
beneficial to Mrs. Haxby, a hope that has been
realized.
In 1886 Mr. Haxby was united in marriage
to Miss Amelia Rasch, who was born in Saun-
ders county, Nebraska, and is a daughter of
William and Philopena (Tillman) Rasch, both
of whom were born in Germany. They came
to the United States in 1858, lived for a time
in New York, came then to Omaha, Nebraska,
and subsequently homesteaded in Saunders
county. The first home that Mrs. Haxby re-
members in Saunders county, was a sod house,
with outbuildings also of sod construction, this
kind of house prevailing over wide areas in
early days here when the transportation of
lumber was difificult. To Mr. and Mrs. Haxby
the following children were born : William C,
who lives on his wheat ranch in Cheyenne
county, Nebraska; Benjamin Robert, who
manages his father's property in Saunders
county ; Esther Fay, who is an independent
young business woman at Scottsblufif; Myrtle
Ruth, who is the wife of Frank Anderson, for-
merly in the plumbing business at Scottsbluft",
returned June, 1919, an overseas soldier in the
American army in France ; and Everett Lyle,
who is attending school. Mr. Haxby and his
family are members of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. In politics he is a Republican as
was his father before him.
JAMES BAXTER, who came to what is
now Scottsbluft' county, Nebraska, in 1888, has
lived in this county ever since and is one of its
substantial and well thought of citizens. Mr.
Baxter has been a good farmer, an honorable
and useful citizen, and on his own land and
underneath his own care has reared a worthy
and creditable family. Since 1917 he has lived
retired at Scottsbluft.
James Baxter was born in Fermanaugh
county, Ireland, September 16, 1854. His
parents were James and Margaret (Mont-
gomervO Baxter, both of whom died in Ire-
land, both Scotch. Of their eight children
four came to America, namely: Alexander,
Mrs. ]\Iartha Kennedy, Mrs. Maria Beatty,
and James. Alexander came to the United
States and engaged in the draying business at
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, from 1864 until his
death in 1905. Maria is the wife of George
Beatty. a farmer in Madison county, Nebras-
ka. The parents were members of the Pres-
bvterian church.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
99
James Baxter attended school in his native
land and made himself useful to his father,
who was a farmer, until 1874, when he came to
the United States. During one year he re-
mained with his brother Alexander at Pitts-
burg, then went to Delaware county, Iowa,
where he worked for five years on different
farms, for about $200 a year, then rented a
farm in Iowa for four years. In 1888 he came
to Nebraska and pre-empted his present farm
in what was then Cheyenne but is now Scotts-
bluft' county, and for years afterward devoted
himself closely to its improvement. Mr. Bax-
ter now owns 120 acres of well improved, ir-
rigated land, as a just reward for his perse-
verance and industry. In 1917, he decided the
time had come when he could take a rest,
therefore he bought a nice property on a pleas-
ant avenue in Scottsblufif, having turned his
farm over to the management of his eldest
son-in-law.
Mr. Baxter was married while living in
Iowa, to Miss Anna Crothers, who was born
October 15, 1853, in Ireland, and came to the
United States with her parents in 1864, who
settled in Delaware county. She was a daugh-
ter of William and Margaret (Ramsey) Croth-
ers, both natives of Ireland. He died July 4,
1865, one year after coming to the United
States, leaving a large family of children.
The mother died in Iowa at the age of sixty-
seven, they were both members of the Metho-
dist church and of Scotch descent. They have
had children as follows : Mary E., who is the
wife of Howard H. Elsabach, a lumber man
at Henry, Nebraska ; James, who operates his
own farm near Scottsbluft' : Sarah, who is the
wife of W. O. Powell, a railroad man in Mon-
tana ; Mattie, who is the wife of Mike J.
Helen, a farmer on Mr. Baxter's old home-
stead ; Etta, who is the wife of C. G. Nicholas,
a farmer near Mr. Baxter; John Alexander,
who was in military service at Camp Funston,
during the great war for seventeen months ;
and Alma Lillian, who was a victim of influ-
enza, in November, 1918. Mr. Baxter and
family belong to the Methodist Episcopal
church. In politics he is a Republican.
MILLARD F. CLUCK. — Perhaps no Am-
erican story writers have a wider audience than
those who write understandingly, or otherwise,
of western ranch life. Their unconventional
tales are usually most interesting, for a spirit of
freedom and adventure lies dormant in every
one, and more emphasis is laid on this fea-
ture than on the sordid details that are neces-
sary in the practical conduct of a great ranch.
in which thousands of dollars are pretty sure
to have been invested. In many ways life
on a ranch in Nebraska undoubtedly pleases
and satisfies, but it must also profit or such
experienced business men as Millard F. Cluck,
a well-known resident of Scottsbluff, would
not devote his valuable time to operating a
a ranch. Mr. Cluck owns four thousand acres
of land in Banner county.
Millard F. Cluck was born at Newport,
Perry county, Pennsylvania, September 25,
1878. the son of William and Barbara (Creek)
Cluck, both bom in Perry county. In 1879
they moved to Iowa, where the father fol-
lowed the blacksmith trade for ten years,
then came to Nebraska and homesteaded in
Banner county. The family lived on the
ranch until 1899, then moved to Scottsbluff, in
which place Mr. Cluck died some years later.
He was a man of sturdy character, upright in
every act, and a leading member of the Ev-
angelical Lutheran church. Of his children
the following survive in addition to Millard
F. : Curtis M., a farmer in Morrill county,
Nebraska ; Catherine, the wife of Allen
Chamberlain, who is pastor of the Methodist
Episcopal church at Ord, Nebraska; Alice,
who married Timothy M. Granshaw, of
Council Bluff. Iowa, she died September 10,
1919; and Anna L., the wife of Dee England,
a farmer near Orient, Iowa. The paternal
grandfather of this family was Jacob Cluck,
who spent his life in Pennsylvania.
Millard F. Cluck was well educated in the
public schools of Gering, and his first busi-
ness experience was in the Irrigators Bank, an
association which continued for seven years
and when he retired in order to give attention
to his own affairs, had become cashier of the
institution. In 1907 he moved to Scottsbluff,
purchased a desirable property and has since
maintained his home here, and taking much
interest in the town's progress. His large
ranch in Banner county he uses for feeding
cattle and is one of the big shippers of this
section.
November 28. 1906, Mr. Cluck was united
in marriage with :\Iiss Tina Barrett, who was
born in Cass county, Nebraska, not far from
Weeping Water. She is a daughter of George
W. and Ollie (Wolcott) Barrett, the former
a native of New York and the latter of IIH-
nois. After their marriage near Elizabeth,
Illinois, the parents of Mrs. Cluck came to
Cass county, Nebraska, where the father home-
steaded. During their first years they lived
in a barn, but prosperity came to them and
Mr. Barrett is retired from business life and
100
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
resides on his estate in Florida. Mrs. Barrett
died in 1913. all her life a faithful member of
the Christian church. Mrs. Cluck has three
brothers and one sister : Lynn, a farmer and
rancher in Canada; Tillie, the wife of John
Todd, a rancher in Canada ; Loren, a farmer
in Kansas ; and Ray, a farmer near Burling-
ton, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Cluck have two
daughters, Velma and Mildred, aged respec-
tively, eleven and five years. Mrs. Cluck was
educated in the high school at Elmwood and
in 1901 was graduated from the training de-
partment of the Peru normal school. She is
a member of the Christian church. In his po-
litical views Mr. Cluck is a Republican.
WILLIAM H. GABLE, has for many years
been identified with important business inter-
ests, both in Nebraska and Wyoming, was
born in the southern part of Germany, Febru-
ary 5, 1864, the youngest son of Henry Gable.
Both parents spent their lives in Germany,
where the father kept a hotel. They were
members of the Lutheran church.
William H. Gable was left an orphan when
yet young. He attended school and followed
such pursuits in his native land as were open
to him, and June 1, 1878 came to the United
States by himself . After landing in the United
States Mr. Gable located first in St. Louis,
where many of his countrymen lived. As he
was learning the English language he accepted
any honest employment for a living during
the first two years. In 1880 he went to Denver,
Colorado, but a year later moved to Wyom-
ing where he became a cowboy on a ranch,
an occupation he followed for five years. Not
such a very long time elapsed however, before
his industry had brought him some capital,
and for some years he kept working on farms,
but later secured land of his own and went in-
to the sheep business, in which he prospered.
He continued to operate his Wyoming ranch
until 1906, when he sold and came to Nebras-
ka. He bought land within two miles of
Scottsbluff and now has three hundred acres
of irrigated land under rental. He has im-
portant interests at Scottsbluft', being concern-
ed in an independent lumber yard and also in
the Scottsbluff creamery.
In 1900 Mr. Gable married Miss Lina
Danulat, who was born September 28, 1876 in
Alsace-Lorraine, and they have three children :
Theodore, who is on the home farm; Martin,
employed in the Scottsbluff creamery during
vacations ; and Lilly, who is attending school.
Mr. Gable reared two nephews, Arnold and
Fred Pistorius, both in military service dur-
ing the World W'ar, the latter being a wireless
operator. Mr. Gable and his family are mem-
bers of the Christian Science church. In poli-
tics he has been identified continuously with
the Republican party. He is valued highly as
a citizen of Scottsbluff. where he has served
on the school board and has furthered many
worthy enterprises of dift'erent kinds.
JOHN W. BLY, who is a member of the
Weller Company, at Scottsbluff, is a practical
hardware man, having been identified with
this line of work ever since leaving his school
books. He has been a resident of Scottsbluff
since 1912, and in April. 1918, was elected
city clerk.
John W. Bly was born at Big Bend, Kan-
sas, December 27. 1887, and is a son of Lu-
cian G. and Catherine (AIcDonald) Bly, the
former of who was born in Illinois and the
latter in Indiana. In 1893 the father located
in Colorado, being a traveling representative
of a wholesale hardware house, and ever since
then the family home has been at Greeley. Of
the family of five children, John W. was the
second in order of birth, the others being:
Winnie, the wife of H. J. Guise, in charge of
the poultry department work in connection
with the agricultural college at Davis, Cali-
fornia ; Hazel, the wife of Allen Straight, a
farmer near Loveland, Colorado ; Lucian, who
conducts a tin shop at Scottsbluff'; and Helen,
attending school. The parents of the above
family are members of the Presbyterian
church. In politics the father is a Republi-
can, and for many years he has been identi-
fied with the Masonic fraternity.
John W. Bly enjoyed excellent educational
advantages and in 1906 was graduated from
the Teachers College, at Greeley. With the
intention of thoroughly learning the hardware
business, he started in at the bottom, begin-
ning as a stove polisher. Mr. Bly has ad-
vanced to his present position through indus-
try and close attention and now owns a block
of stock in the Weller Company in addition
to being its credit manager.
On June 1, 1913, Mr. Bly was united in mar-
riage to Miss Sarah E. Lowery, who was bom
in Iowa, and they have one son, Robert Walter,
who has not yet reached his second birthday.
Mr. and Mrs. Bly are members of the Presby-
terian church. He is a Scottish Rite Mason
and has always lived up to the moral stan-
dards such a connection makes necessary. His
political affiliation has always been with the
Republican party. He has been an earnest
and active citizen ever since coming here and
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
101
individually and in business is held depend-
able and trustworthy.
EDWIN A. CURRIE, who is now num-
bered among the substantial agriculturists of
Scottsblufif county, has been the architect of his
own fortune, and having based his life's struc-
ture on substantial foundations, has builded
soundly and well. \Mien he entered upon his
career he was possessed of little save inherent
ability and a determination to succeed, and
these have proved ample, through their devel-
opment, to enable him to become a well-to-do
farmer, stockman, and banker in a community
which does not lack for able men.
Edwin A. Currie is of staunch Scotch an-
cestry on both the paternal and maternal sides
as the respective names fully indicate. He was
born in northeastern Ohio, March 6, 1858, the
son of James and Marion (Hamilton) Currie,
both natives of the vicinity of the famous
Scotch city of Glasgow. To them were born
four children: Lucihe M.. who married Jason
Beach, is deceased ; Edwin ; James R., who
lives in Ohio, and Maggie H„ the wife of Fred
Simpson, also lives in Ohio.
The parents were some of the fine Scotch
settlers who came to the United States during
the nineteenth century, as they emigrated from
their native land about 1849 and soon after
reaching America located in Ohio where the
father followed farming as a life work, being
eminently successful in this chosen vocation.
The family were members of the Methodist
Episcopal church in Ohio, where the father
died in 1898, being survived by his wife who
lived to a hearty old age, passing away in 1903.
Edwin Currie attended the district schools in
Ohio, receiving an excellent rudimentary edu-
cation supplemented by the instruction of his
parents and the reading they induced him to do
by himself. He began working by the month
for a short time, then bought a team and began
running a huxter wagon and dealing in stock.
The Ohio valley was thickly settled at this
period and the young man determined to take
advantage of the opportunities of securing gov-
ernment land in the newer state west of the
Mississippi, and the Great Muddy, as the Mis-
souri was known, for here on the rolling prai-
ries was land, and room enough for all who
desired to come and take it. On April 6, 1886,
the start for the new home in the west was
made. Mr. Currie was a bachelor, so it was
not necessary to take as much household goods
as though more members were to make the
trip. In Missouri he and his uncle, John H.
Currie, purchased a team and wagon for the
long journey overland. Leaving there May
18th it was the 1st of July before Mr. Currie
reached Scottsblufif county where he took a
tree claim, preempted 160 acres and home-
steaded another 160 acre tract in 1887. He
at once began to make improvements upon
his land, engaged in gei.eral farming and
stock-raising. The early struggles taxed the
young man's strength to the full but he pos-
sessed determination and persistence and in
the end they triumphed over all obstacles. Mr.
Currie had the utmost confidence in the com-
munity where he had selected to make his
home, and during the drought years of 1890
and 1894, when other settlers were discour-
aged and were leaving for their former homes
in the east, he bought more land, and has lived
to reap the reward of this confidence. He still
owns the original homestead and claim but has
added to them until today he has a rural estate
of 6,000 acres dry grazing land, about 600
acres of which are under irrigation. From
1886 to the present Mr. Currie has been active-
ly engaged in agricultural pursuits ; his talents
seem naturally adapted to these lines and today
he is the owner of a splendid enterprise which
is but a just reward for a man of industry and
energy, enterprise and spirit, which was so
well demonstrated during the trying years
when crops failed. He is noted for his int'»g-
rity and tlie manner in which he lives up to his
business obligations.
Mr. Currie was married in 1906 to Miss
Jennie G. Richards of New England extrac-
tion, as she was born in Vermont and came to
western Nebraska while her father at the time
of settlement in this section. Mr. Currie is a
staunch Republican in politics ; he and his wife
are members of the Federated Congregational
church, while he is fraternally a Scottish Rite
Mason. He now rents his irrigated land and
keeps his pasture land. He was one of the
organizers and the first president of the Amer-
ican Bank of Mitchell.
ADELBERT A. MILLER, widely known
in Western Nebraska as special agent for the
Occidental Building & Loan Association of
Gering, for a number of years was prominent
in the educational field and has also been con-
nected with business enterprises of some mag-
nitude. Mr. Miller was born at Tekonsha,
Calhoun county, Michigan, July 14, 1873, and
has been a resident of Gering, Nebraska, and
a leader in many of its affairs of moment, for
the past eighteen years.
Rlr. Miller's parents were Daniel S. and
Elizabeth Ann (Harsh) Miller, both born near
Canton, Ohio. The grandparents were Peter
Miller and Adam Harsh, both natives of
102
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Pennsylvania who moved to Ohio, where the
latter died but the father passed away in Mich-
igan. Daniel S. Miller served in the Civil
War as a member of the Ninety-eighth Ohio
infantry and accompanied his regiment with
Genera! Sherman on the memorable march to
the sea. In 1866 he moved to Michigan,
bought land in Calhoun county and there both
he and wife died. They had the following
chikiren : Maggie the wife of William Cre-
ore, of Battle Creek, Michigan; Adelbert A.,
who resides at Gering ; Lawrence L., a retired
merchant at Gering; and two who are de-
ceased. The father was reared in the Luther-
an faith and never changed his church rela-
tionship, while the mother was a; faithful
member of the ^Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Miller's father continued his interest in
the Grand Army of the Republic up to the
time of his death, belonging to the post at
Tekonsha, Michigan.
Adelbert A. Miller attended the country'
schools near his father's farm and afterward
the normal school at Ypsilanti with the inten-
tion of making teaching a part of his life
work and for a number of years he was very
prominent in the educational field, first in
Michigan, later in North Dakota, where he
was superintendent of schools of Milnor, in
Sargent county, for four years, and afterward
at Gering, where he filled the same ofifice. Mr.
IMiller then embarked in the lumber business,
which he followed for nine years, retiring
from that line to enter the mercantile busi-
ness with his brother. Six years later he sold
his store interest to accept the position of
special agent for the Occidental Building &
Loan Company, a business concern of large
importance, and Mr. IMiller now has charge of
all the loans in Western Nebraska. He de-
votes all his time to furthering the interests
of this corporation, but during the progress of
the World War, he put aside most of his per-
sonal interests in order to work for the pub-
lic weal, serving early and late as a member of
the Council of Defense and as food adminis-
trator.
In 1898 Mr. Miller was united in marriage
with Miss Elsie Johnson, who was born in
Southern Michigan, a daughter of Homer
Johnson, who was a substantial farmer. To
Mr. and Mrs. Miller the following children
have been born : Margaret, educated at Ger-
ing, occupied a position of chemist in the sugar
factory here for one year, and is now ticket
and express agent for the Union Pacific Rail-
road at this point ; and Murray, Dorothy, Stan-
ley, Esther, Adelia, Jack, Elizabeth and Cath-
erine. Mr. Miller and family belong to the
Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is
a staunch Republican and frequently he has
served in public offices at Gering. He was the
first city treasurer and has served on the school
board for twelve years. He is prominent in
the order of Odd Fellows and is a member of
the grand lodge, having passed through all the
chairs. Mr. Miller is recognized as one of
Gering's representative citizens.
HENRY EBERHARDT, who is engaged
in the mercantile business at Scottsblufif, has,
in a few years, built up a large business en-
terprise here, on a foundation of business hon-
esty and courtesy to ever>-one. Mr. Eber-
hardt came to the United States from a far
distant countr}-, but soon adapted himself to
American ways and is able to count his ac-
quaintances as friends.
Henry Eberhardt was born in Russia, April
12, 1891, the youngest of a family of six chil-
dren bom to Jacob and Mary (Milburger)
Eberhardt. The other members of the family
are: George and Jacob, who are farmers in
Russia; Mary, w-ho lives with her mother in
Russia ; Fred, who came to the United States
and is in the creamery business in Kansas ;
and Lizzie, who lives in Russia. The father
died on his farm in Russia when Henry was
but six months old. He attended school in his
native land and thus was well informed when
he came to the United States and settled in
Kansas in 1910. There he worked in a store
and also learned the language of the country
with the quick intelligence for which his coun-
trymen are noted. In 1914 he came to Scotts-
blufif and started a small store, stocking it
with reliable and seasonable goods, and from
that modest beginning has built up a large
trade and now has a commodius general store.
Having sold this out he and Dr. C. N. Aloore
bought the Harris market on Broadway and
have one of the most modern and up-to-date
markets in Western Nebraska.
In 1913 IMr. Eberhardt was united in mar-
riage to Miss Mary Kuxhousen, and they have
two children, namely: Leo and Ruth. They
are members of the Lutheran church.
WTLLIAM L. SIMMONS, who is one of
the leading contractors at Scottsbluff, is a
member of a very important old family that
settled first in Dodge and later became known
in other couties of the state of Nebraska. He
was born at North Bend, Dodge county, June
7, 1882, and is a son of Charles H. Simmons,
extended mention of whom will be found in
this work.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
103
William L. Simmons did not have the edu-
cational advantages that he is able to afford
his own children, but he remembers when
school was held in a sod house within walking
distance over the prairie from his father's
homestead. He helped on the farm but his in-
clination was toward mechanics and when
eighteen years old he learned the carpenter
trade and has spent the greater part of his
time at Scottsbluff ever since as a carpenter
and contractor. He is now associated with
his brother, O. W. Simmons, and they do a
large volume of business, running two crews
of men all the time. The business reputation
of the firm is above par.
In 1904 ]\Ir. Simmons was united in mar-
riage to Miss Alpha , McCartney, who was
born at Sibley, Iowa, a daughter of James S.
and Alice (Darling) IMcCartney, natives of
Illinois who were married in Iowa, to which
state they were taken when young. The fath-
er of Mrs. Simmons was a farmer. He died
January 15, 1913. The mother resides at
Scottsbluff'. Mrs. Simmons has two sisters:
Mary, the wife of W. G. Munser, a farmer
in Wyoming; and Alice, the wife of Arthur
Marley, a farmer near Lingle, Wyoming. Mr.
and Rlrs. Simmons have a son and daughter,
Harry and Harriett, now fourteen years old
and attending school, who have the distinction
of being the first twins born in the city ; and
Fred, who is ten years old and also in school.
Mrs. Simmons is a member of the Presby-
terian church. Mr. Simmons is a Republican
in politics but he has never desired any po-
litical office. He is somewhat prominent in
the order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the
grand lodge and the Encampment.
DAVID W. HILL, who is a highly re-
spected citizen of Scottsbluff', has been one of
the county's extensive cattle feeders for many
years, and since moving into this city in 1914
still devotes his Scottsbluff' irrigated land to
this industry. Mr. Hill has been a resident of
Nebraska for thirty-three years.
David W. Hill was bom at Lockport, New
York, December 15, 1864, one of a family of
fourteen children born to Minard and Almira
(June) Hill, the former of whom was born
in England, and the latter in New York, in
which state they were married. In 1865 re-
moval was made to Michigan, where the fath-
er bought land and both parents died there.
They were quiet. Christian people, and both
belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Of the seven surviving members of his par-
ents' family, David W. Hill is the only one
living in Nebraska. He was afforded a thor-
ough public school education, being graduated
from the high school, in Van Buren county,
Michigan, after which he intelligently took
up work on the home farm, paying consider-
able attention to stockraismg. In January,
1886 he moved to Buffalo county, Nebraska
and shortly afterward took a pre-emption in
Banner county, and for a number of years
following lived in that section. For fifteen
j-ears he was in partnership with T. C. Eg-
gleston in the cattle business, their opera-
tions being extensive in raising and handling
high grade and registered White Face cattle.
Mr. Hill then came to Scottsbluff' county
and bought irrigated land and went into the
cattle feeding and shipping business, in
which he continued actively engaged until
1914, when he came to Scottsbluff' and
took possession of his comfortable residence
on Avenue A and identified himself with the
best interests of the place.
In the spring of 1894 Mr. Hill was united
in marriage to Miss Gertrude Grafiuse, who
was born in Pennsylvania and is a daughter of
Thomas and Jennie (De Remer) Grafiuse.
The parents of Mrs. Hill moved to Buffalo
county, Nebraska, in 1878, homesteaded and
resided on their land until the father's death
in 1910. Mrs. Hill has one brother, Charles,
who is a hardware merchant at Kearney, Ne-
braska. Mr. and 3ilrs. Hill have the follow-
ing children: Bernice, who is a student in
the state university : Jennie, who is also a uni-
versity student ; and Ivis, Charles and Doro-
thea, all of whom are in school with higher
educational advantages in prospect. Mrs. Hill
is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Hill
was quite active in Republican politics while
living in Banner county and for six years
served as a member of the board of county
commissioners. He belongs to the Odd Fel-
lows and the Knights of Pythias and is past
chancellor in the latter organization.
FRANK E. COWEN, who is a representa-
tive business man of Scottsbluff, has been en-
gaged here for a number of years as a cement
contractor and has built up an unquestioned
reputation for reliability. Mr. Cowen was
boni in Marshall county, Iowa, July 2, 1873,
and is a son of Elisha M. and Elvira (Trip-
lett) Cowen, extended mention of whom will
be found in this work.
Frank E. Cowen attended the public schools
in Chicago, Illinois, in boyhood, then came to
Cheyenne county. Nebraska, w^orked at farm-
ing for some years and also at times on the
104
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
"round ups" in Wyoming. In 1904 Mr. Cowen
came to Scottsbluff and has been interested in
the cement business and identified with the
Cowen Construction Company, ever since, with
the exception of three years which he spent
as a farmer in Arkansas.
On December 31, 1894, at Harrisburg, Ban-
ner county, Nebraska. Mr. Cowen was united
in marriage to Miss Maude Dennison, who is
a daughter of Edward and Mary (Urban)
Dennison, the former of whom was born in
Illinois, and the latter in Bohemia. The par-
ents of Mrs. Cowen live at Scottsblufif and
her father is interested in the cement industry.
Mr. and Mrs. Cowen have had children as
follows : Grace, who died when aged eighteen
years ; Luretta. who is employed by the local
telephone company; Vera, who is also a tele-
phone operator; and Lovella, Nellie and Ed-
ward Mason, who are yet in school. Mr.
Cowen has taken much interest in civic mat-
ters ever since coming to Scottsbluff and his
attitude on many public questions has won
him the confidence of his fellow citizens, which
they have evidenced by electing him a member
of the city council for the third time. He be-
longs to the Masonic fraternity and to the
Modern Woodmen.
ELISHA M. COWEN, who is at the head
of the Cowen Construction Company, Scotts-
bluff', for the past fourteen years has been
identified with building interests here, and to
him the city is largely indebted for the sub-
stantial character of the larger number of its
residences and business houses. The Cowen
stamp on a building marks material and work-
manship the best that can be secured.
Elisha M. Cowen was born at Cummington,
Berkshire county, Massachusetts, March 28,
1848. His parents were James M. and Julia
M (Mason) Cowen, the former of whom was
born at Glasgow, Scotland, and the latter in
Massachusetts. In early youth James M.
Cowen was bound out to an uncle, in whose
cotton-spinning mill at Preston, England, he
learned the trade of spinner and before leav-
ing the mill had become a foreman. In 1840
he crossed the Atlantic ocean to the United
States in a sailing vessel and found work in
one of the great mill districts of Massachu-
setts. Of his two children Elisha M. is the
only survivor.
Elisha M. Cowen was educated at Albany,
New York, passing through the high school
and the normal college, and in 1863 was gradu-
ated from the Bryant & Stratton Commercial
college of that city. While attending school
in Albany, he was occupied during a part of
the time with the duties of a page in the
House of Representatives there. Although
opportunities were afforded him for a pro-
fessional or possibly a political career, for he
made many influential friends at the capital,
his inclinations were in an entirely dift'erent di-
rection. He learned the bricklaying trade
and worked at the same in Albany until 1866,
when he went to Chicago, Illinois, worked
there at his trade, then to Iowa for three years,
and then to Banner county, Nebraska. Mr.
Cowen then homesteaded and remained on his
land for seventeen years, removing then to
Colorado Springs, and from there, in 1905
came to Scottsbluff. Mr. Cowen has been
very successful in his business undertakings
and is ranked with the leading men in his
line in this part of Nebraska.
On January 25, 1870, Mr. Cowen was unit-
ed in marriage to Miss Elvira Triplett, who
was bom at Princeton, Illinois and is a daugh-
ter of Edward and Lucinda Triplett, natives
of Ohio. They moved on a farm in Illinois
and both died there. Mr. and Mrs. Cowen
had two children born to them, namely: Nel-
lie and Frank E. The latter is prominent in
public affairs at Scottsbluff' and is serving in
his third term as a member of the city coun-
cil. He is a cement contractor and is con-
nected with the Cowen Construction company.
The only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cowen,
Nellie, was the widow of W. M. J. Brozee,
and had two children: Stanley and Etola, the
latter of who is the wife of Frank H. Burbank,
who is a railroad man. Stanley Brozee was
an employe of the Mid-Continent Oil Com-
pany at Bartlesville, Oklahoma, prior to en-
tering military service in the World War, in
May, 1918. He was trained in ambulance
service at Tarrytown, New York. His mother
died in 1900 at the early age of twenty-two
years. Mrs. Cowen is a member of the Bap-
tist church. Since 1870 Mr. Cowen has be-
longed to the order of Odd Fellows and for
many years has been a Mason and twice has
been master of his lodge.
PHILO J. McSWEEN, chief of Police De-
partment at Scottsbluff, occupies a position
that requires personal courage, together with
a large measure of discriminative judgment
and understanding of human nature. Since
entering upon the duties of this office. Chief
McSween has enforced the law intelligently
and without fear or favor and to the fullest
extent enjoys the confidence of the law-abiding
public.
Andrew J. Faulk, M. D.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
105
Philo J- McSween was born in Burnet coun-
ty, Texas, September 11, 1872, and is a son of
Dr. John and Elizabeth (Wright) McSween.
The father was born in Tennessee and the
mother in Mississippi, in which latter state
they were married and the father obtained
his medical degree from a Mississippi college.
After some years of practice there he moved
to Texas, in which state he also practiced his
profession for some years and then went into
the cattle business in which he continued un-
til he retired from active life. His death oc-
curred in Texas and that of the mother of
Chief McSween in Colorado. Of their nine
children Philo J. was the youngest and is the
only one of the five survivors living in Nebras-
ka. Before the war between the states, Dr.
McSween was a man of large fortune, but
like many others he lost heavily through cir-
cumstances over which he had no control. As
long as he lived he was a conscientious sup-
porter of the priciples of the Democratic
party. He was a faithful Mason and strict in
his adherence to the tenets of the Presby-
terian church.
Philo J- McSween obtained his education
in the schools of Burnet, Texas. When eigh-
teen years old he went to Colorado and for
sixteen years he was concerned with farm in-
dustries there, having had experience in his
native state. From Colorado he came to Ne-
braska and in 1907 embarked in the meat
business at Scottsbluiif in partnership with M.
E. Harris, but two years later bought a farm
in the county, which he conducted until March,
1919, when he sold it and moved back into
town, accepting the appointment of chief of
police.
At Brush, Colorado, January 10. 1899, Philo
J. McSween was united in marriage to Miss
Lureada Lee, who was bom in Iowa and is a
daughter of Joseph and Rosaline Lee, natives
of Kentucky, who moved to Iowa and became
farming people there. Chief and Mrs Mc-
Sween have had five children, namely: Myrtle,
who was graduated from the high school at
Scottsbluiif in the class of 1919; Raymond L.,
who fell a victim of influenza in the epidemic
of 1918, a promising and talented youth of
sixteen years ; and Merle, Mildred and Fred,
aged respectively thirteen, seven and three
years. A staunch Democrat in politics, a loyal
member of the Knights of Pythias, a public-
spirited citizen and an efficient and reliable
official, all these may be truthfully cited of
Chief McSween.
ANDREW J. FAULK, M.D., is one of the
favored mortals whom nature launches into
the world with the heritage of sturdy ancestry,
a splendid ])hysique, a masterful mind and en-
ergy enough for many men. Added to these
attributes are exceptional intellectual and pro-
fessional attainments and useful lessons of a
wide and varied experience stored away. He
is a type of the true gentleman and representa-
tive of the best in communal life, dignified,
yet possessed of an affability and abiding hu-
man sympathy that have won him warm
friends among all classes and conditions of
men. Of sturdy pre-Revolutionary stock, he
was born strong of decision, with judgment
and pronounced independence. If a man comes
of a good family he ought to be proud of it
and he performs an immeasurable duty when
he employs the best means to preserve the fam-
ily record in enduring form, that future gen-
erations may receive instructicTn through the
principles and influences, the personality and
career of the forbears. The subject of this
biography can trace his lineage to colonial days,
as two of his great-grandfathers came to this
country and located in the Keystone state be-
fore the Revolutionary war and aided in re-
claiming Pennsylvania from the virgin forest
and possession of the Indians.
Andrew J. Faulk was born in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, June 13, 1858, the .son of
Thomas B. and Sarah (Reed) Faulk, both
natives of that great commonwealth. Thomas
Faulk received an excellent education and
served on the editorial staff of one of the Pitts-
burgh daily papers for several years. He was
an ardent supporter of the Republican party
and as a young man eagerly entered into polit-
ical life, taking a leading part in party policy
and administration, holding one office for twen-
ty-seven years, being reelected term after term.
Andrew's grandfather removed to Dakota Ter-
ritory in 1862, locating in Yankton, where he
entered prominently into the communal life of
the city and surrounding country, and was ter-
ritorial governor. He was a member of the
Republican national convention that nomin-
ated John C. Fremont. The grandfather died
in 1898, passing away a man of honor in his
eighty-fourth year. Thomas B. Faulk died at
the age of fiftv-nine vears at Kittanning, Penn-
sylvania, in 1898.
Reared in such a family with its many tra-
ditions and high ideals it was but natural that
the boy should receive an excellent elementary
education afforded by the public schools of
Yankton, followed by broader and more com-
prehensive courses that developed his fine men-
106
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
tality and prepared him for the career to which
he intended to devote his Hfe's labors. At the
close of his academic career the young man
entered upon the study of law, being admitted
to practice in South Dakota in 1881, passing a
brilliant examination before the bar. For some
years he followed the profession of law and his
name became well known in the territory and
state, but the career of a lawyer did not en-
tirely satisfy him for he wished his life to be
sii^nilicantly une of service, for he is a man of
unwa\erin;4- uptimism and abiding human sym-
liathy and to satisfy these qualities he entered
the Siiiux Citv College of Sledicine, receiving
his degree of M.D. in 1901. For a short period
the doctor was engaged in the practice of his
profession in westeren Iowa, but in 1903, he
removed to western Nebraska, and on the 25th
day of September opened an office in iVIitchell.
On coming here his ability soon gained him
recognition, with the result that great success
has attended his earnest efforts in his chosen
calling. In the work of his humane mission
Dr. Faulk spares himself neither mental nor
])hv>ical eft'iirt. and carries relief and solace to
those in .-ifflictinn and distress. His practice
has grown to immense proportions for he has
gained a reputation throughout the entire Pan-
handle as physician and surgeon. The doctor
is a namesake of his illustrious grandfather;
while his ancestor, General Daniel Brodhead,
was an officer in the Revolutionary W'ar, and
while the doctor has never sought military hon-
ors he is a worthy representative of his family,
as he volunteered among the first on the decla-
.ration of war in 1917. He is a leading figure
in all patriotic movements and takes an active
]iart in all civic and national affairs that tend
toward the betterment of living conditions in
state and county. His aunts have been at vari-
ous times delegates of the Daughters of the
American Revolution and one also served as
president of this organization in both South
Dakota and Nebraska. Dr. Faulk does not
neglect his duties as a citizen of the city in
which he makes his home but enters actively
in the political life of Scottsbluff county as a
staunch Republican, having served several
terms as chairman of the Republican Central
Committee and as Congressional committee-
man. He is a member of the Masonic frater-
nity and a Shriner, having taken his thirty-sec-
ond degree ; is also a member of the B. P. O. E.
and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
and a generous supporter of the Episcopal
church, of which the family are members. He
has served as surgeon general of the Patriarchs
Militant for Nebraska; was the organizer and
first president of the Scottsbluff County Med-
ical Society ; is a member of the American
Medical Society and state representative to the
Nebraska State Medical Society, and was three
times elected delegate thereto. At the present
time he is serving in important local offices, be-
ing president of the school board, and city
physician, a position he is well qualified to fill
as he is not only a highly educated man but is
one of broad outlook who keeps abreast of the
times and well up on all questions of the day,
and at all times advocates the latest equipment
and most advanced methods in the schools for
the benefit of the rising generation.
Dr. Faulk was first married in 1881 to Mina
L. Fletcher, a native of the Empire state, who
became the mother of two children: Carl F.,
who chose law for his career and is now prac-
ticing in Alaska ; and JNIina Lucille, who is de-
ceased. Mrs. Faulk was a highly educated
woman of wide attainments, who for some time
previous to her marriage taught "Methods" in
New York State Normal. She died in April,
1902. Two years later the doctor married Miss
Maude E. Baldwin of [Minnesota, who is a
woman of splendid talents and utmost sincer-
ity, taking a very active part in all benevolent,
charitable, and war work, and with her hus-
band enjoys great popularity.
E. FRANK KELLEY, a man of ripened
school experience and high scholarship, effi-
ciently fills the oft'ice of county superinten-
dent of schools in Morrill county. His name
carries weight in representative educational
circles all over the state. Mr. Kelley was
born in Illinois, October 16, 1876, but received
most of his educational training in Nebraska.
He is the son of James Dallas and Eugenia
(Smith) Kelley, the former of whom was
born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Iowa,
the marriage taking place at Fort Madison,
that state. The mother of Superintendent Kel-
ley died in 1914, but his father still resides at
Portland, Oregon, where he was a mechanic
in the railway shops for ten years, following
similar trade employment in Illinois, Iowa and
Nebraska. He has always been considered a
man of good judgment, has ever been faith-
ful to his trade contracts, is a staunch advo-
cate of the principles of the Democratic party
and a member of the Presbyterian church. He
belongs to the order of Modern Woodmen.
Of his five children E. Frank is the only one
living in Nebraska.
E. Frank Kelley attended the Osceola high
school, following his graduation he matricu-
lated at Fremont college, graduating after four
year with his Bachelor's degree in 1909 and
immediately began teaching school in Polk
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
107
county, Nebraska. Finding work in this pro-
fession congenial, he continued his pedigogical
work in Polk county for five years, then served
as principal of the Lodgepole schools for one
year, and subsequently for three years was
principal of the schools of Bayard. In the
naeanwhile he became connected with the First
National Bank of Bayard, an association
which lasted two years before he became an
official of the Bank of Bayard, an institution
with which he was connected five years, until
the fall of 1916 when he was elected county
superintendent of Morrill county and assumed
office in 1917, being re-elected in the fall of
1918. Mr. Kelley has been pleasantly asso-
ciated with the county teachers, who have
found in him not only a competent educational
leader, but also a wise and helpful friend, this
condition working beneficially for the schools
all over the county.
On June 24, 1903. Mr. Kelley was united
in marriage to Miss Clara Goldsmith, who was
born at Ashland, Nebraska, in 1881, a daugh-
ter of David G. and Helen Goldsmith, both of
whom survive, the father being a retired farm-
er, with a home at North Platte. Nebraska.
Superintendent and Mrs. Kellev have two chil-
dren : Helen, born May 14, 1905 : and Dallas,
born January 15, 1916. The family belong to
the Episcopal church. In politics a Demo-
crat like his father, Mr. Kelley also belongs
to the order of Modern Woodmen.
ville high school, John Henry Steuteville en-
tered upon the study of law and in 1899 was
graduated from the University of Nebraska
College of Law. For some years he was ac-
tive in the educational field, at first teaching
country schools in Nemaha county, Nebras-
ka, and afterward served as principal of the
city schools of Howe, Johnson and Brown-
ville, Nebraska, and of Belle Fourche in South
Dakota. He then engaged in the practice of
his profession, first at Gering and later at
Bridgeport. When the county was divided, at
the first county election, he was elected coun-
ty judge, in which office he has continued ever
since, being re-elected five times. Not only
on the bench has Judge Steuteville been a
prominent and representative citizen of state
and county, but in other relations and move-
ments contributive to the general welfare, he
has been a valuable co-operating force. He is
a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason, and has
filled all the chairs in the Blue Lodge at
Bridgeport. During the World War he served
as secretary of the Council of Defense, was
county Food Administrator, a member of the
Home Guards, of the Four Minute Men. and
was active on committees in the Y. M. C. A.
movements and in other war preparations.
Judge Steuteville owns several farms in Mor-
rill county, and today is accounted one of the
substantial and representative professional
men of the Panhandle.
JOHN H. STEUTEVILLE, who has most
ably exercised judicial powers in Morrill
county as County Judge for the last decade,
stands in foremost rank with the substantial
and loyal citizens of Bridgeport. Judge
Steuteville was born in Grayson county, Ken-
tucky, December 1, 1875, the son of Richard
Foggatt and Narcissa E. (Haynes) Steute-
ville, who moved from Grayson Springs, Ken-
tucky, to Brownville, Nebraska, in 1880, and
still reside there. Both parents were born in
Kentucky, the father a son of Richard and
Mary (Phillips) Steuteville. natives of Louisi-
ana and Kentucky respectively, and the mother
a daughter of Henry and Jane (Stith)
Haynes, natives of Virginia and Kentucky.
These old names are yet familiar and honored
in different sections of the South. Judge
Steuteville has two brothers and two sisters:
Earl, the postmaster at Bridgeport, Nebraska ;
William V., an attorney at Sioux City, Iowa ;
Jessie E. Berlin, who resides at Brownville,
Nebraska ; and Mary, a teacher of mathe-
matics in the high school at Sioux City, Iowa.
Following his graduation from the Brown-
MABEL J. JOHNSON, the county treas-
urer of Morrill county, Nebraska, has earned
the reputation of being one of the most cap-
able, energetic, efficient and likable officials
that have been elected and re-elected to re-
sponsible office here for many years. The
spirit of progress that marks Nebraska in so
many ways, is no more notably manifested
than in opening doors of equal opportunity
to both sexes and the calling of women as
well as men who have the confidence of the
public to positions of trust. Miss Johnson,
after one term of difficult duty meritoriously
performed, was re-elected county treasurer in
1918 and is still serving.
Mabel Johnson was born at Omaha, Nebras-
ka. Her parents were Charles and Josephine
(Palmquist) Johnson, both of whom were
natives of Sweden. They came to the United
States in 1879 and resided at first at Minne-
apolis, Minnesota. In 1899 they located at
Omaha but subsequently the father home-
steaded in Morrill county where he was en-
gaged in farm industry until the time of his
death, in 1909. He was a member of the
108
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Lutheran church, was a RepubHcan in poli-
tics and belonged to the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. The mother of Miss Johnson
survived her husband and now lives at Bridge-
port. Of the family of ten children eight sur-
vive and two of the sons were in military
service during the World War, August W.
and David G. The former saw seven months
of hard service in France and participated in
the memorable battle of the Argonne Forest,
where he was severely wounded. This young
hero has not yet recovered from his injuries
and, although once more on American soil, is
yet a sufferer in a military hospital at Des
Moines, Iowa. David was yet in a training
camp at the time the annistice was signed
with Germany. The other brother and sisters
of Miss Johnson are as follows : A. C, who
is a Broadwater ranchman and farmer ; Anna
v., who is the wife of L. C. Curtis, engaged
in the sand business at Fremont; Mary, who
is deputy treasurer of Morrill county; and
Helen and Alice, who are yet in school.
Miss Johnson was educated in the Omaha
public schools. Her first public position was
as an employe of the post office for four years,
after which she served as deputy county treas-
urer for six years and was first elected treas-
urer in 1916 and re-elected in 1918. She
votes the Republican ticket. Miss Johnson is
a member of the Presbyterian church at
Bridgeport.
Z. HAROLD JONES, district and county
clerk of Morrill county, has been identified
with county offices since 1914, entering public
life from the educational field, in which he
had been favorably known for some years.
Mr. Jones was born at Gretna, Sarpy county,
Nebraska, March 28, 1891, and his interests
have always been centered in this state.
Mr. Jones' parents were Ziba and Mary I.
( Stansberry ) Jones, who were born, reared
and married in Iowa. In 1879 they came to
Nebraska and settled in Sarpy county but
later moved to Dawson county where the
father bought land. This farm he subsequent-
ly sold. It was before the settlers had com-
menced to benefit by the irrigation project
that later has brought such plenteousness into
even the most arid territories. Mr. Jones and
his family returned to Sarpy county and lo-
cated on a farm twenty-five miles southwest
of Omaha, on which the family lived for
twenty years. The father retired from active
work at that time and moved to Gretna,
where his death occurred in 1900. when fifty-
two years old. He had been a man of con-
siderable importance in Sarp county, was ac-
tive in the Republican party and was a mem-
ber of the Congregational church. For a num-
ber of years he had been a member of the
order of Modern Woodmen of America, un-
der the auspices of which he was buried, and
in which organization he carried insurance to
the amount of $3,000. Of his eight children
three besides Z. Harold survive: Ella J., the
widow of John Hickey, lives at Marsland, Ne-
braska and owns two large ranches in Sioux
county, Nebraska ; George P., a miller at Hem-
ingford, in Boxbutte county; and Augusta
who is the wife of Arthur E. Simonds, of
Bellevue, Nebraska, agent for the Burlington
Railroad. The mother of the family lives
with her son at Bridgeport and belongs to
the Presbyterian church of this city.
Following his graduation from the Gretna
high school in 1907, Mr. Jones for six years
alternated teaching and attending school to
carry on higher and extended studies and thus
qualify for better positions. He taught one
year in the Bridgeport high school, being re-
elected at the close of his contract. The oft'er
he did not accept, however, and in 1914 en-
tered the county clerk's office as deputy, which
position he served until January 1, 1917, when
he was elected clerk for the two-year term,
and in November, 1918, was re-elected. His
duties include those of both district and county
clerk and complete efficiency marks their ad-
ministration.
On January 1, 1919, Mr. Jones was united
in marriage to Miss Nell Jeffords, who was
born at St. Paul, Nebraska, a daughter of John
F. and Rose (Cordell) Jeft'ords, who were
born, reared and married in Illinois. Some
thirty years ago they came to Nebraska, lo-
cating first at Loup City but moving later to
St. Paul and afterward coming to Bridgeport,
where the father engaged in the jewelry^ busi-
ness, a vocation in which he built up an excel-
lent clientele and which he conducted until his
death here. Mrs. Jeffords survives her hus-
band and yet resides here.
Mr. Jones is affiliated with the Detnocratic
party, takes an active part in civic affairs in
Bridgeport in many ways, and is secretary of
the school board and treasurer of the Home
Guards. He is present chancellor commander
of the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to the
Bridgeport Progressive Club. Mr. and Mrs.
Jones are members of the Presbyterian church,
and are prominent in all social activities of the
city.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
109
BEXAJAH A. ROSEBROUGH, a pros-
perous business man and thoroughly respected
citizen of Mitchell, Nebraska, who is connected
in a business way with the Mitchell Mercantile
company, lays no claim to being a pioneer of
this section, though he has undergone many of
the pioneer conditions. He is one of tliose
who, having spent a period on a farm, deserted
the soil to enter commercial pursuits and has
found success and prosperity therein, for today
he enjoys great popularity due to courteous
treatment, absolute fidelity to engagements,
reasonable prices and expeditious service. All
these qualities have served to attract to the
store trade that extends over a wide stretch of
the surrounding countryside. His standing in
business circles is excellent, and rests upon
more than a decade of honorable and straight-
forward dealing.
^Ir. Rosebrough is a native of Illinois, born
at Havana, August 20, 1868, the son of Ben A.
and Matilda (Tomlin) Rosebrough, the former
a native of Ohio and the latter of New Jersey.
To them were born five children : Elizabeth,
the wife of Joseph P. Fisher of Mitchell, de-
ceased ; Cora, married George Drake Coon,
Pecos, Texas, and is deceased; Benajah A.;
Frank, who lives in Rockport, New York ; and
Bertha, the wife of Gilbert Carey, a resident of
Dewitt, Nebraska, deceased. For many years
the father of the family was a carpenter and
contractor in Illinois but later became a farm-
er, a vncation he followed until his death which
occurred April 8, 1907, his wife having passed
away in 1876.
Benajah received an excellent education in
the public schools of Illinois and upon graduat-
ing from the high school entered I.inctiln L'ni-
versity, Lincoln, Illinois, where he tiiiislK<l a
course of study before graduation. Sdou after
the close of his college career the young man
was engaged in Y. M. C. A. work for about a
year, but this impaired his health to such an
extent that he was forced to seek less confining
occupations and accepted a position with the
Hoosier Furniture Company, of Lincoln, Illi-
nois. Thirteen months later he returned to
New Holland for a vacation but left to accept
the position of manager of the Ryan furniture
store, of New Holland, Illinois. Mr. Rose-
brough heard the call of the west, however, and
after looking up various localities decided to
come to Nebraska, wdiich he did in 1*^04; the
country looked good to him a-, he ^ays today
and he determined to make this great common-
wealth his future home. For a year he lived
much as did some of the pioneers of the earlier
days, but in 1905 he came to Mitchell to accept
a position with the Mitchell Mercantile Com-
pany, as head of the undertaking, furniture,
and hardware departments. He at once began
the study of embalming and received a license
to practice in February, 1908; die following
June he passed second in the class at Omaha,
receiving his Nebraska license in 1910. Not
satisfied with his preparation for this important
profession, Mr. Rosebrough took a post gradu-
ate course in embalming under Professor
Howard Eckles, being one of eleven men in a
class of thirty-eight members to pass the exam-
ination in dermo surgery. He has recently
embalmed the largest known man in this sec-
tion of the world as he was six feet and two
inches tall, and weighed seven hundred and
twenty pounds.
On April 26, 1899, was solemnized the mar-
riage of Benajah Rosebrough and Nellie Derr,
who was born and reared in Illinois, and to
them have been born five children: Mary, at
home ; La Verne, in ScottsblufT ; Paul, at home ;
Immogene and Dorothy. The family are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church 'while Mr.
Rosebrough's fraternal al'tiliations are with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the
Knights of Pythias, while he exercises his priv-
ilege of the ball.it as an independent, voting for
the best man to till office.
CHARLES D. CASPER, editor and pro-
prietor of the Bridgeport Herald, has been
known and appreciated in journalism in Ne-
braska for many years, and through the me-
dium of his own facile pen might disclose
much that is interesting in relation to news-
paper work and political movements during
that time. For Mr. Casper is equally well-
known in public affairs and as a member of
both houses of the state legislature, has been
influential in placing some very important laws
on the statute book. He is a self made man
and struggled up from a boyhood environment
of orphanage and limited opportunity.
Charles D. Casper was born at Red Lion,
near New Castle, Delaware, being one of two
children born to Richard and Margaret
(Reed) Casper. His sister, Emma, is the
widow of Richard Dilmore and resides in the
city of Philadelphia. Both parents spent their
lives in Delaware, the mother of Mr. Casper
dying in his childhood. The father married
Mary Reed, sister of his first wife and they
had two children, both of whom are now de-
ceased. The father never accumulated prop-
erty. Mr. Casper's birth took place December
10, 1845, and his school privileges were limit-
ed, as he practically looked after himself un-
til he enlisted for service as a soldier in a
cavalry regiment in the Civil War, with which
no
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
he served two years and one month. In 1866
he came west and for three years ivas a mem-
ber of the regular army of the United States,
receiving his honorable discharge in Dakota.
Mr. Casper then went to Iowa, where there
was need of harvest hands and after the sea-
son was over accepted work as a section hand
on the railroad. It was in 1872, at Victor,
Iowa, that he started in a printing office to
learn the trade and continued there and even
owned a newspaper in that town for a short
time before locating at David City, Nebraska,
where he established his first permanent resi-
dence. Mr. Casper became a prominent fac-
tor in Democratic politics, was elected the
first countv clerk of Morrill county and serv-
ed three years. In 1885 he was elected to the
lower house of the state legislature ; in 1886
was sent to the upper house from Polk and
Butler counties, and in 1893 was returned to
the house and served two temis. He returned
to David Citv and resided there until 1905,
when he cam'e to Morrill county and home-
steaded and in 1906 came to Bridgeport. In
the meanwhile, Mr. Casper had conducted the
Bridgeport Blade for one year, and the Bayard
Transcript for eighteen months. On March 1,
1911, Mr. Casper founded the Bridgeport
Herald, a weekly journal, which has built up
a wide' circulation and fills a long felt want.
It is ably edited and its columns give both the
news of the outside world and of local happen-
ings that! interest subscribers. In connection
with his newspaper, Mr. Casper owns and
operates a fine job printing office.
Mr. Casper was married December 21, 1880,
to Nancy M. Brownsett, who was bom in the
Province of Quebec, Canada, and they have
three daughters: Emma M., the widow of
Earl M. Duncan, is her father's able assistant
in the newspaper office ; Grace A., the wife of
E. J. Hansen, a railroad agent at Shelton, Ne-
braska; and Ruby L. B., the wife of A. T.
Bjoraas, a brick contractor at Torrmgton,
Wyoming. Mr. Casper is a member of the
Presbyterian church. For many years he has
been a Mason and at the present time is serv-
ing as master of his lodge at Bridgeport.
CLYDE SPANOGLE, who is one of the
three owners of the Bridgeport Bank, the pio-
neer banking institution here, is prominent in
other fields than banking, public affairs having
engaged his attention for^some years, although
at present he gives the most of his attention to
the rapidly growing business of the bank.
Mr. Spanogle enjoys the distinction of having
been elected the first mayor of Bridgeport.
Clyde Spanogle was born in Hamilton coun-
ty, Nebraska, May 10, 1880. His parents were
Andrew J. and Catherine (Stover) Spanogle,
who were born and married in Pennsylvania.
They came from there in 1879 to Nebraska,
and the father bought two sections of land in
Hamilton county, in association with his broth-
er, and latter established the first bank at Phil-
lips, which he conducted for a number of
years, then sold, retiring from business, and
his death occurred in 1892. The mother of
Mr. Spanogle died in 1902. In youth the
father and mother belonged to the Dunkard
church but lated united with the Baptist
church. The father was a man of sterling
character and in 1883 was honored in Hamil-
ton county by election to the state legislature,
in which body he served with steadfast adher-
ence to what he believed to be right.
Clyde Spanogle attended the public schools
and completed his education in the William-
son School of Mechanical Trades at Philadel-
phia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1900. Since
1903 he has been connected with the Bridge-
port Bank, in the ownership of which he is
associated with his brother Mark Spanogle,
and Fred R. Lindberg. Fred R. Lindberg is
president of the bank ; Mark Spanogle is cash-
ier and Clyde Spanogle is assistant cashier.
In 1909 Clyde Spanogle was united in mar-
riage to Miss iMartha Sheffel, who was born at
St. Louis, Missouri, and they have one son,
Andrew John, born in 1915.
Mr. Spanogle stands deservedly high in pub-
lic esteem at Bridgeport, where for years he
has been an earnest citizen and a worker for
civic betterment. For five years he was chair-
man of the village board, elected on the Re-
publican ticket, at different times has been
city clerk, and in 1918 was elected mayor of
Bridgeport. He has given encouragement to
many worthy business enterprises here as an
aid to commercial development and has been
liberal in his support of patriotic and charit-
able movements aftecting the whole commun-
ity. He attends the Episcopal church.
FR.A.NK H. PUTNAM, who has been in-
terested in the lumber business at Bridgeport
since 1905, has been active in the public affairs
of city and county and is well and favorably
known in Western Nebraska. Mr. Putnam is
a native of Iowa, born in Davis county, Sep-
tember 13, 1855. a son of Green M. and Mary
M. (Kelsey) Putnam, the former of whom
was bom in Illinois and the latter in Indiana.
The paternal grandfather, Elijah Putnam, was
born in Virginia, moved from there to Illinois
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
and later to Iowa, where he engaged in farm-
ing during the rest of his Hfe. The maternal
grandfather, George Kelsey, died in Missouri
but removed from Indiana to Iowa when the
mother of Mr. Putnam w-as a child. Both par-
ents were reared in Iowa, were married there
and both died in that state. Of their ten chil-
dren six are living, Frank H., the only one in
Nebraska, being the first born. The parents
were members of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
After his period of school attendance was
over Mr, Putnam assisted his father on the
home farm until he was twenty-one years of
age and for one year afterward engaged in
agricultural pursuits on his own account. In
1878 he came to western Nebraska and for
several years worked for a cow outfit, but in
1884 homesteaded in Morril county. Later
he traded his homestead for Sand Hill ranch,
and there was engaged in the cattle business
until 1905, when he came to Bridgeport and
bought the Bridgeport Lumber yard. The
business at that time was incorporated for
$25,000, but under his able management was
increased to $75,000. He serv^ed as presi-
dent of this concern until 1917, when he sold
his interest but still fills the office of man-
ager.
Mr. Putnam was married in 1890, to Miss
Emma C. Hutchinson, who was born in Wis-
consin, and they have tw^o children: Glenn G.,
formerly a farmer in Morrill county ; and
Hazel M., the wife of Chester Carter, who has
returned to Bridgeport after two years of
overseas service with the American Expedi-
tionary Force in France. Mrs. Putnam is a
member of the Episcopal church. A zealous
Republican, Mr. Putnam has been honored by
party choice for responsible public positions
and has served on the city council and also as
county commissioner. He is somewhat promi-
nent in the order of Odd Fellows and has
passed all the chairs in the local lodge.
THOMAS F. NEIGHBORS, one of the
younger members of the bar at Bridgeport
where his friends and well wishers are many,
has been in practice here since 1915. not con-
tinuously, however, as he spent almost two
years as a soldier in training during the World
War. Mr. Neighbors is a native of Nebras-
ka, born at McGrew. in Scottsblufl; county, in
1891.
Mr. Neighbors comes of military ancestry,
as his paternal grandfather, Joseph Xeighl)ors,
was a soldier in the Civil War and fell at the
battle of Nashville. His maternal grandfath-
er, Dr. Thomas Franklin, served with the
rank of captain in the Civil War, under the
command of General Grant. Afterward he
became a physician at Gering, Nebraska and
continued in practice there until his death.
The parents of Mr. Neighbors are Joseph
G. and Carrie A. (Franklin^ Neighbors, who
were born, reared and married in the state
of Missouri. They came to Nebraska 'in
1885, settling first in Custer county, but in
1887 the father homesteaded in Scottsbluff
county and the family home has been near
McGrew ever since. The father has always
been affiliated with the Democratic party but
has never accepted public office. He is a
member of the Baptist church and was one
of the founders of the lodge of Odd Fellows
at Bayard. The mother was reared in the
Methodist Episcopal faith. Of their five chil-
dren three survive : Grace, the wife of Sam-
uel Shove, a merchant at Glenrock, Wyoming;
Thomas F., of Bridgeport; and Melvin, who
resides on a farm near McGrew.
Thomas F. Neighbors attended the country
schools in early boyhood, in 1908 was gradu-
ated from the high school at Bayard, from
the Wesleyan Academy at Lincoln, in 1912,
and in 1915 completed his course in law at
the University of Nebraska. He immediately
entered into practice with F. E. Williams, the
partnership being dissolved when both answer-
ed the call to anns, Mr. Neighbors entering
service May 12, 1917. For three months af-
terward he was in the training camp at Fort
Snelling, Minnesota and afterward until his
discharge in February, 1919, was at Camp
Dodge. LTpon his return to private life Mr.
Neighbors immediately picked up the broken
threads of his personal business and re-estab-
lished his law practice at Bridgeport where he
has found his professional efforts appreciated.
He has served as city attorney both at Bayard
and Bridgeport.
On Spetember 4, 1918, Mr. Neighbors was
united in marriage to Miss Irene Welsher, who
was bon^ at Knoxville, Iowa, a daughter of
B. R. Welsher. Mrs. Neighbors grew up in
the Methodist Episcopal church, but Mr.
Neighbors is an Episcopalian. In politics he
is active in his support of Republican doc-
trine, and fraternally is identified with the
Knights of Pythias. He is a young man of
stable, well poised character, able in his pro-
fession and earnest and public spirited as a
citizen.
ROBERT E. BARRETT. — The purchaser
of land who is careless about securing a clear
title to the same, often finds himself involved
in serious legal difficulties as to real owner-
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
ship. Hence the careful, patient abstractor is
best called in, his accurate and attested docu-
ments making investments sound and safe. In
Robert E. Barrett, city clerk of Bridgeport,
Morrill county has one who has had long ex-
perience in the abstract business. Mr. Bar-
ret is a native of Nebraska, bom at North
Platte, October 23, 1872.
His parents were Harry and Jane (Bar-
chard) Barrett, the former born in Ireland
and the latter in England. Both came to the
United States as young people and were mar-
ried in the state of Missouri. Of their twelve
children Robert E. was the seventh born and
six still survive. The father was connected
with railroad construction work all his life,
a vigorous, hardy, dependable man. While
yet young, in Missouri, he was foreman of
section gangs and after coming to Nebraska in
1867, was continued in the same position and
for years was employed in construction work
in the vicinity of Lodgepole, where both he.
and wife died. They were faithful members
of the Roman Catholic church. In his earlier
years the father was a Democrat but the issues
brought forward in the. campaign of 1884
when Hon. James G. Blaine was a candidate,
caused him to change his party allegiance and
ever afterward was a Republican.
Robert E. Barrett attended school at Lodge-
pole and Chappell, Nebraska, and the first
work he ever did was as a laborer on the
railroad. In the course of years he was in-
terested along other lines, and in 1904 he
was elected county clerk in old Cheyenne coun-
ty, serving four years. It was while acting in
this public capacity that he did his first ab-
stract work and was the only abstractor in the
county. Later he moved to Julesburg. Colo-
roda, where he engaged in the lumber business
for seven years before coming to Bridgeport
to open an abstract office, and has developed
this business into one of great importance. In
politics he is a Republican, is city clerk of
Bridgeport, was census enumerator in 1900,
and is secretary' of the Northport Irrigation
District. In 1897 Mr. Barrett was united in
marriage to Miss Grace Durkee. who was
born in the state of New York, a daughter of
David Cook Durkee, a homesteader in Ne-
braska. Later he and wife removed to Jules-
burg, Colorado, and still live there. Mr. and
Mrs. Barrett have three children i Maude,
Barchard and Leander. The family belongs
to the Presbyterian church. It is not always
that men immersed in business cares find leis-
ure for literary expression even if they have
talent, and it must be conceded that ^Ir. Bar-
rett has had a fairly busy life. Nevertheless,
he has found time to add to the world's con-
tribution of enjoyable literature, has published
one book, "Treading the Narrow Way," and
has written poetry of high literary quality.
WILLIAM E. GUTHRIE, whose exten-
sive business activities and public efforts have
made him prominent for years in Wyoming
and Nebraska, has been a resident of Bridge-
port since 1904, and he is now secretary of
the board of irrigation in this district. Mr.
Guthrie was born at Rue, in Marion county,
Ohio, July 26, 1849, the son of Isaac F. and
Rachel (Fredrick) Guthrie. The father was
born in Ohio, a son of Joseph Guthrie, and a
grandson of Colonel John Guthrie, an officer
in the Revolutionary' War, who was born in
Pennsylvania and settled at an early day in
Pike county, Ohio. The mother was born in
Virginia, a daughter of John Fredrick, an
early settler of Ohio. Mr. Guthrie's parents
were married in Ohio and he was the second
born of their twelve children, the other sur-
vivors being as follows : S. A., in the sheep
business in Wyoming; a sister, who is the
wife of County Clerk Clelland, of Converse
county, Wyoming; P. E., in the cattle busi-
ness, lives at Broken Bow, Nebraska ; and
another sister, the wife of J. B. Russell, a
capitalist of Savannah, Missouri. The father
of this family was very prominent in Marion
county, Ohio, for many years. He was a
successful farmer there and owned his Ohio
farm until the time of his death, although, in
1885 he came to Merrick County, Nebraska,
bought land near Clarks, and died on that
place. In politics he was a Democrat. For
twelve years he was county commissioner of
Marion county and for fifteen years was a
justice of the peace. He belonged to the Ma-
sonic fraternity and lived up to every rule
of the order. The mother of Mr. Guthrie was
a member of the IMethodist Episcopal church
and the father was a liberal contributor. They
were people of solid worth and their descend-
ants recall them with emotions of pride and
veneration.
William E. Guthrie enjoyed educational ad-
vantages in the district schools in boyhood and
later in the Wesleyan University at Delaware,
Ohio. From college he returned home to give
his father assistance and remained until 1878,
when he came to Wyoming and there, for
twenty-five years prospered in the cattle busi-
ness. In 1895 he located in Omaha and short-
ly afterward bought a fann and feedyard at
Clarks, in Merrick county, where he contin-
ued to handle cattle for the next twenty years.
Elmer Z. Tenkixs and Wife
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
113
In the meanwhile he had become active in the
poHtical field and in 1890 was elected to the
Wyoming state legislature on the Republican
ticket and took part in bringing about some
very important legislation. In 1904, when
Mr. Guthrie came first to Morrill county, he
became deeply interested in the irrigation pro-
jects and bought land along the Belmont Ir-
rigation Canal, has continued his active in-
terest and, as mentioned above is secretary of
the board that is expending $75,000 in putting
in drains and headgate in the Morrill county
irrigation district. Mr. Guthrie owns four
irrigated farms and gives much of his time to
their development.
In 1885 Mr. Guthrie was united in marriage
to Miss Margaret Hewitt, who was born at
Zanesville, Ohio, but was reared in Des
Moines, Iowa. They have one daughter,
Margaret, the wife of I. P. Hewitt, who is
connected with the Puget Sound Navy Yard,
at Everett, Washington. They have two chil-
dren : William Guthrie Hewitt and Helen
Hewitt. Mr. Guthrie is a York Rite Mason
and a Shriner and belongs also to the Knights
of Pythias and the Elks.
ELMER Z. JENKINS. — In section 1,
township 23-56, near the thriving town of
Mitchell, in the north central part of Scotts-
blufif county, will be found the attractive and
admirably improved farm home of him whose
name initiates this paragraph, who is success-
fully engaged in general farming and stock-
growing and who is known and valued as one
of the influential and representative citizens of
the community.
Mr. Jenkins is a contribution made to Ne-
braska by the fine old Buckeye state, but there
is no faltering in his appreciation of and loyalty
to the great state in which he has achieved
prosperity through his own well ordered en-
deavors. He was born in Jackson county,
Ohio, September 30, 1872, and is a son of An-
drew J. and Charlotte (Moore) Jenkins, he a
native of Ohio, and she of Missouri, the father
being eighty years of age and the mother above
seventy years at the time of this writing, in the
winter of 1919. Andrew J. Jenkins was a
farmer in Ohio but he went as a pioneer into
Kansas, where he took up and perfected title
to a tree claim, a property upon which he made
good improvements and upon which he contin-
ued to reside several years. He was a member
of a gallant Ohio regiment that did valiant ser-
vice in defense of the Union during the Civil
War, and in his venerable years he finds deep
satisfaction in his affiliation with the Grand
Army of the Republic. He is a stalwart Re-
])ublican in politics, and his wife is a devoted
member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Of their seven children, Elmer Z., of this re-
view, is one of the two eldest, his twin sister,
Bertina, now a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska,
being the widow of Lafayette Sherrow; Mary
is married and resides at Shenandoah, Iowa;
William is a painter and decorator by vocation
and resides at Kansks City, Alissouri ; Albert is
a street-car conductor in the city of Lincoln,
Nebraska ; Roy resides in Kansas City ; and
Lottie is deceased.
Elmer Z. Jenkins gained his youthful edu-
cation in the public schools of Ohio and Kan-
sas, and he has been a resident of Scottsbluflf
county since 1908. when he entered claim to
the homestead upon which he has since main-
tained his residence, the same comprising
eighty acres, and the entire tract having excel-
lent irrigation facilities. He has erected good
buildings and made other modern improve-
ments on the place, and is making definite suc-
cess in connection with his vigorous enterprise
as an agriculturist and stock-raiser. He has
added eighty acres to his holdings by purchase.
He is influential in community affairs, has
served nine years as a member of the board of
directors of the consolidated schools of which
his district is a part, and he is treasurer of the
Farmers Union at Alitchell. In politics he
maintains an independent attitude and votes in
consonance with the dictates of his judgment.
He and his wife are zealous members of the
Methodist Episcopal church at Mitchell and he
is a valued and popular teacher in its Sunday
school, as well as liberal in the support of all
departments of its work.
In 1898 was solemnized the marriage of Mr.
Jenkins to Miss Gertrude E. Hoy, daughter of
Daniel Hoy, who came from Virginia to Ne-
braska and who is now a prosperous farmer
near Saltillo. Lancaster county, this state. To
Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have been born four
children: Arthur married Helen Lukens and
will reside in this neighborhood; Carl and
Clarence are at the parental home, and Inez
died at the age of nine years. In a fraternal
way Mr. Jenkins is actively identified with the
Mitchell Camp of the ]\Iodern Woodmen of
America.
ALBERT E. FISHER, who owns the con-
trolling interest in the Nebraska State Bank
at Bridgeport, of which he is cashier, is not
only widely known in financial circles but for
many years was one of the foremost educa-
tors in the state. Mr. Fisher was bom at Wy-
anet, in Bureau county, Illinois, November 5,
1871 and was brought by his parents to Ne-
114
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
braska in infancy. He has spent his Hfe in
this state and some years ago homesteaded in
Dawes county, south of Chadron.
The parents of Mr. Fisher, Eugene K.
and Hulda S. (Smith) Fisher, were bom,
reared and married in Illinois. Of their six
children. Albert E. is one of the four sur-
vivors, the others being: Henry L., a retired
ranchman who lives at Chadron ; Nellie M.,
the wife of Morgan H. Nichols, a merchant
at Chadron ; and Ralph W., a traveling sales-
man out of San Francisco, lives at Oakland,
California. In 1872 the parents came to Fill-
more county, Nebraska. The father has been
a farmer all his life and owns a section of land
in Dawes county, but now lives retired at
Chadron, where the mother died. She was a
faithful member of the. Presbyterian church
and a woman of beautiful Christian charac-
ter. The father was reared in the Baptist
faith. He has always given his political sup-
port to the Republican party and for many
vears has been identified with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows.
Albert E. Fisher entered Chadron Academy,
from which he was graduated in 1898. He had
taught school in the meantime, for six years,
then entered the university at Omaha, from
which he was graduated in 1905. He found
teaching a congenial vocation and continued in
the educational field until 1917, during this
time serving as superintendent of schools at
Beemer, Nebraska, from 1905 to 1908; at
Neligh, from 1908 to 1910, and was superin-
tendent of the Aurora schools from 1910 to
1917, when he retired from educational work.
He then embarked in the banking business at
Bayard where he remained one year as presi-
dent of the Farmers State Bank of Bayard,
then came to Bridgeport, taking over the con-
trolling interest in the Nebraska State Bank
of this city. This institution is a sound, re-
liable, prosperous bank, with a capital of
$25,000; surplus and profits $5,000; and av-
erage deposits $70,000. In 1918 J\lr. Fisher
was elected president of the Bankers Asso-
ciation of Nebraska. He has been honored
many times by the Nebraska State Teachers
Association, and has served in all the higher
offices of that body and for five years was a
member of the state examining board.
On December 26, 1905. I\Ir. Fisher was
united in marriage to Miss Katherine C.
Clark, who was born at Craig, Nebraska, and
they have three children : Katherine, John A.
and Helen C, all attending school. Mr. Fisher
and family belong to the Presbyterian church.
He is active in the Masonic lodge at Bridge-
port, is past master at Aurora and Bayard,
belongs to the Royal Arch at Aurora, and is
a charter member and master under dispensa-
tion at Bayard and now a member of Camp
Clark lodge at Bridgeport. He belongs also
to the order of Highlanders. In his political
views he is a Republican.
CHARLES E. STEUTEVILLE, post-
master at Bridgeport, from the nature of his
office is one of the city's best known citizens,
and because of his efificient administration of
the same, is one of the most popular. He be-
longs to an old and most worthy Nebraska
family and was born in Nemaha county in
1885, being a son of Richard F. and a broth-
er of Judge J. H. Steuteville.
Charles E. Steuteville completed the high
school course at Brownville and then spent
one year in the normal school at Peru, Ne-
braska. He embarked in business as manager
of a hardware store and lumber yard and for
a number of years was identified with the
lumber industry. For eight years he was an
employe of the Edwards-Bradford Lumber
Company of Sioux City, Iowa, and for three
years filled an important position with the C.
N. Dietz Lumber Company of Omaha. In
1908 he came to IMorrill county and home-
steaded, later worked for the Bridgeport Mer-
cantile Company, and for two years acted as
assistant postmaster. On May 15, 1918, he
was appointed postmaster and took charge of
the office, with the duties of which he was al-
ready familiar. This post office is continual-
ly growing in importance and Mr. Steuteville
has taken advantage of every opportunity af-
forded him to improve the local service.
In 1911 Mr. Steuteville was united in mar-
riage to Miss Eva L. Todd, who was born in
Missouri. They have one son, John Richard,
born July 3, 1913. Mrs. Steuteville is a mem-
ber of the Presbyterian church. Postmaster
Steuteville's political affiliation has always
been with the Democratic party and he is a
member of high standing in the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows at Bridgeport.
MARTIN HANNAWALD. — When that
great artery of transportation, the Union Pa-
cific Railroad, had been completed across Ne-
braska and the territory had become a state of
the Union, many substantial and far-seeing
men of the states farther eastward, began to
take an interest in the prairie lands of the
new state, and one of these was Martin Han-
nawald, then a farmer in Michigan and now
a retired resident of Bridgeport. For forty-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
115
five years this family has belonged to Ne-
braska, and for almost thirty years Mr. Han-
nawald was a representative farmer and stock-
man in Hamilton county.
IMartin Hannawald was born in the state of
New York, November 11, 1848, and obtained
his schooling there. He was yet a young
man when he came as far west as Chicago,
Illinois, where he lived for three years, dur-
ing that time driving an express wagon for
a livelihood, and then went to Van Buren
county, Michigan, as a fann worker. It was
while so engaged that he met and was sub-
sequently married to Miss Elizabeth Mather,
who was bom in Van Buren county and is one
of the two survivors of three children born to
Reuben and Celia (Caveney) Mather. They
were natives of New York, where Mr. Mather
was a well-to-do farmer. They drove from
New York in a covered wagon to Michigan,
where the father of Mrs. Hannawald became
a prominent man. He was a Republican in
politics and served as township treasurer for
seventeen years. Both parents of Mrs. Han-
nawald were members of the Baptist church.
Her one brother, Wright Mather, is a pro-
duce merchant at Saginaw, Michigan.
In 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Hannawald come to
Nebraska and bought land in Hamilton coun-
ty and for many years lived on that property
and then sold and came to Morrill county.
Here Mr. Hannawald purchased a large ranch
and was in the stock business during the rest
of his active life, in 1911 retiring to Bridge-
port. Of the family of eight children born to
Mr. and Mrs. Hannawald the following sur-
vive: Hattie, the wife of C. D. James, a farm-
er near Ericson, Nebraska ; Celia, who mar-
ried M. J. Cass, a retired farmer near Long
Beach, California; Thomas J., who lives at
Aurora, Nebraska; N. L., who homesteaded
as also did his wife and live near Bridgeport;'
and Blondena, the wife of M. Beerline, a
hardware merchant at Bridgeport. Mr. Han-
nawald has always voted the Republican
ticket but has never been willing to serve in
public office though often urged, as a man of
high standing and sound judgment, to accept
such responsibility. He belongs to the Ma-
sonic fraternity and both he and wife are
members of the Eastern Star, in which Mrs.
Hannawald has been active and prominent.
She served as the first Worthy Matron of
Bridgeport Chapter No. 260. Mr. and Mrs.
Hannawald can recall many interesting events
of pioneer life in Nebraska, and they cherish
many kind thoughts of those who, like them-
selves, had the courage and endurance to
bear the inevitable hardships and helped to
bring about better conditions.
RALPH O. CAN AD AY, one of the younger
members of the Bridgeport bar, came to this
city to establish himself in his profession in
March, 1919, after his return from militar\'
service during the World War. Lieutenant
Canaday was born at Minden, Nebraska, April
4. 1891, the elder of two sons born to Joseph
5. and Mary Jane (Winters) Canaday. His
brother, Walter A. Canaday, is in the real
estate business at Bridgeport: and his sister,
Mary Golda, is a senior in the State Univer-
sity.
Senator Canaday, father of Ralph O. Cana-
day, was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, a
son of John Canaday, who was born in Ken-
tucky, lived subsequently in Indiana, Illinois
and Nebraska and died in the last named state
in 1900. The Canadays probably settled in Ken-
tucky contemporary with Daniel Boone and
the grandfather of Senator Canaday was the
the only member of his family that escaped
during an Indian attack on the unprotected
settlements. Joseph S. Canaday was married
in Illinois to Mary Jane Winters, who was
born in Crawford county, that state, and in
1887 they came to Nebraska. He bought land
in Kearney county and still lives at Minden.
He has been very prominent in Democratic
politics in the county, served in the state sen-
ate, was county superintendent of schools and
also county treasurer and has frequently been
suggested for other public positions of respon-
sibility. He was the organizer of the Co-op-
erative Elevator Association found all over
the state and is president of the same. With
his family he belongs to the Christian Science
church.
Ralph O. Canaday was graduated from the
Minden high school in 1909 and spent six
years in the State University, in 1915 being
graduated with the degree of A. B. and in 1918
received his LL.B. degree. He was admitted
to the bar in 1917 and practiced at Minden
until May 17, 1918, when he entered the Na-
tional army, going to the officers' training
school at Camp Dodge, and was commissioned
second lieutenant of Company D Eighty-
eighth infantr>' on August 26, 1918. The end
of hostilities came before his regiment left
Camp Dodge, and he received his discharge
January 31, 1919. In March following he
came to Bridgeport, formed a partnership
with William Ritchie, Jr., and has been en-
gaged in the practice of law here ever since
with encouraging success. He has charge of
the Central States Investments Company's
116
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
business in Morrill county. In politics Mr.
Canaday is a Democrat and fraternally a Ma-
son, belonging to Lodge No. 19 A. F. & A. M.
at Lincoln. He belongs to the Christian Sci-
ence church.
WALTER A. CANADAY, second son of
Hon, Joseph S. Canaday and Mary Jane
(Winters) Canadav, was born at Minden, Ne-
braska, March 22,' 1893. He was graduated
from the high School of Minden in 1913. after
which he took a commercial course in Boyle's
Business college at Omaha. He then went on
his father's farm in Kearney county ana re-
mained interested there until in August, 1917,
when he joined a medical corps for service
in the World War, accompanied the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Force to France, where he
served from August, 1918, until May, 1919,
when he was discharged. He returned home
and visited one week, then came to Bridge-
port and embarked in the real estate business
in partnership with R. C. Neumann. Mr.
Canaday's business future looks bright. Like
his brother he belongs to the Christian Science
church. Both are held in the highest possible
esteem.
RAYMOND C. NEUMANN, a leader in
the real estate business at Bridgeport in part-
nership with Walter A. Canaday, is widely
and favorably known. For many years he was
identified with agricultural interests in the
state and later with business enterprises in this
city. Mr. Neumann is a native of Nebraska
and was bom at Sidney, July 19, 1875, a son
of Henry and Fidelia (McMurray) Neumann,
the former of whom was born in Hanover,
Germany, and the latter in Iowa. They were
married at Sidney, Nebraska, and three of
their four children survive. Hank R., Ray-
mond C. and Rosebud. The father came to
the United States when fourteen years of age
and shortly afterward enlisted at New York in
the United States army, came to the western
country as a soldier, took part in Indian war-
fare and assisted in guarding the railroad
workers when the LTnion Pacific Railroad was
being built into Sidney. Later he became a
stockman in Cheyenne county, Nebraska, and
his death occurred at Denver, in 1910, where
the widow yet survives. Mr. Neumann was a
prominent factor in Republican politics in
Cheyenne county and served as county com-
missioner.
Raymond C. Neumann obtained his educa-
tion in the public schools and later taught
school for two years, during 1896-97. He be-
gan life on a farm and early became inter-
ested in stock and particularly cattle, and
there is a story told in the family that he was
but six years old when he attended a round up
and surprised the other cow punchers with
his skill as a rope thrower. In later years
he substantiated this reputation. Sometime
later he rented his father's ranch for five
years and went into the stock business, rais-
ing many horses and some cattle and making
a success of his enterprise. Afterward he en-
gaged in the oil business at Denver for a
time. In 1905 he came to Bridgeport and was
one of the first business men to go into the
restaurant business here and two years later
widened his business by opening a hotel, which
he conducted until August, 1917, when he sold
out and retired from that line, although he still
owns the building. Since then Mr. Neumann
has been interested in the real estate and in-
surance lines of business in which he has
demonstrated his usual enterprise and good .
judgment.
On November 20, 1897, Mr. Neumann was
united in marriage to Miss Callie Capron,
who was born in Ohio, and they have three
daughters, namely: Violet, who fills an im-
portant position in the Bridgeport Bank ; and
Opal and Callie, both of whom are attending
school. Wliile never unduly active , Mr. Neu-
mann has always been faithful to the princi-
ples of the Republican party, believing them
safest for a real foundation upon which true
Americanism can build. For many years he
has been identified with the Masonic fratern-
ity. He is numbered with the useful and rep-
resentative citizens of Bridgeport.
FRANK N. HUNT, whose successful oper-
ations in real estate in Morrill county have
resulted in a change of ownership of large and
valuable tracts of land, and thus brought con-
siderable outside capital to this section, has
won a place among the leading business men of
even much riper experience. Mr. Hunt be-
longs to Nebraska, having been born at Oma-
ha, October 19, 1887, the son of George J. and
Margaret (Bouldin) Hunt, both descended
from ancestors who settled in Maryland at an
early day. His father was born in the city of
Baltimore, in 1856, where the Hunt family for
generations has been prominent in financial
and political aff^airs. Immediately after his
graduation from the University of Maryland,
in 1876, he came to Nebraska and the impres-
sion he received during a year spent at Omaha,
was so favorable that after his admission to
the bar two years later, he came back to that
city and became prominent as a member of the
William D. LixdEn
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
117
law firm of Condon, Clarkston & Hunt. In
the spring of 1893 he came to Morrill county
and prior to locating at Bridgeport in 1904
gave his professional attention to the atifairs
of the Belmont Ditch, in which he was heavily
interested. He stands at the head of the
Bridgeport bar. His marriage took place in
1883 to Miss Margaret Bouldin. of Belair,
Maryland, and Frank N. is the youngest of
their three children, of whom personal men-
tion and a steel portrait appears on other pages
of this work.
After his preliminary educational training
in the public schools, Frank N. Hunt entered
a military school in Missouri, afterward at-
tending an academy at Macon, Missouri, for
two years, then became a student at Lehigh
University, South Bethlehem. Pennsylvania,
from which he was graduated with the class of
1910. The same year he came to Bridgeport
and spent one season on his father's ranch in
Morrill county, and the following two years
found him at work in the Bridgeport Bank.
He then took up Kinkaid land, of which he
yet owns six hundred and forty acres, lived
on his property for three years and then came
to Bridgeport to enter the real estate business,
opening his ofifice in 1916. The firm does a
general land and abstract business, has valu-
able clients all through the valley and takes
pride in its reputation for business integrity.
In 1912 Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to
Miss Sybil Ball, who was born in the city of
London, England. They have two children :
Lesa Mary and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt
belong to the Episcopal church. Mr. Hunt is
a Democrat in politics and a loyal party work-
er, but personally is more interested in busi-
ness than in politics. He is devoted to the
welfare of Bridgeport and is ever ready to co-
operate with other good citizens for the city's
benefit, and has had influence in bringing about
improvements in many directions. For some
years he has been an Odd Fellow and at pres-
ent is serving as secretary of the lodge at
Bridgeport.
WILLIAM D. LINDEN.— The Panhandle
district of Nebraska is indebted to the neigh-
boring state of Iowa for many of its repre-
sentative citizens, and among the prominent
figures in the industrial life of Scottsbluff
county who is thus to be designated as a native
of the Hawkeye commonwealth is ilr. Linden.
He is one of the most loyal, progressive and
valued citizens of Mitchell, where lie has de-
velojied an important and successful enterprise
in the conducting of a mill for the grinding of
alfalfa and the manufacturing of a valuable
product, and where also he has been specially
vigorous and enthusiastic in furthering the ad-
vancement of the town and the county, it hav-
ing been his privilege to serve as the first mayor
of Mitchell.
Mr. Linden was born at Mount Pleasant,
Iowa, on the 14th of September, 1872, the son
of Andrew G. and Elizabeth ( Hakanson ) Lin-
den, both natives of Sweden, where they were
reared and educated. Andrew G. Linden em-
igrated from his native land to the United
States in 1864 and first established his residence
at Galesburg, Illinois, where he became a team-
ster. Eventually be became a pioneer settler
near Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he became the
owner of 160 acres of land, which he reclaimed
and developed into a productive farm. In 1873
he disposed of this property and came to Clay
county, Nebraska, where he took up and per-
fected title to a homestead of 160 acres and
where he became one of the representative
agriculturists and stock-growers nf the county.
He made excellent iiii|ini\ cmk-iUs (in his home-
stead and there contimieil ti> rtside until he was
well advanced in years anil was justified in
retiring. He and his wife now reside at Her-
shey, Lincoln county, and are enjoying the
gracious rewards of former years of earnest
and honest endeavor, the former being seventy-
four and the latter sixty- four \-ears of age at
the time of this writing, in the winter of 1919.
They are earnest communicants of the Lu-
theran church and politically the Republican
party enlists the loyal support of Mr. Linden.
Of the fine family of children the subject of
this sketch is the el(le--t ; .Martin is a prosperous
farmer near Funk, I'helps county : Reka is the
wife of Alvin Johnson, who likewise is a pros-
perous Nebra.ska farmer; Anna is the wife of
Morey Johnsnii, a farmer near Hershey, Lin-
coln coniUy ; Lillian is a popular teacher in the
public scli(inl> (if tile state of Montana; Gus-
tavus is a prominent ranchman and merchant
in Tripp county. South Dakota, where he is
serving as postmaster at Linden, an office
named in his honor ; Esther died at the age of
seven years.
William D. Linden was an infant at the time
of the family removal to Nebraska and is the
only one of the children born in Iowa. He was
reared on the old home farm in Clay county,
there received the advantages of the public
schools, and there he continued his active alli-
ance with farm industry until he had attained
to the age of twenty-seven years. In the mean-
while he had the distinction of doing the first
plowing by steam power in that county. In
1900 he removed to Phelps county, where for
three years he was engaged in farming and the
118
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
raising of pure-blood Duroc-Jersey hogs and
Red Polled cattle. He then removed to Lin-
coln county, where he developed and irrigated
a farm for his father, near Hershey. in which
village he likewise established and put into suc-
cessful operation an alfalfa mill. In 1909 he
removed to Mitchell, Scottsbluiif county, and
assumed control and active management of a
well-equipped alfalfa mill which had been
established by others, but which had proved a
failing venture. His energy, executive ability
and technical knowledge proved potent in the
redemption of the enterprise and placing the
same on a most substantial working basis, so
that it now proves a definite adjunct to the in-
dustrial activities of the village and the county.
Mr. Linden has been a leader in movements
and enterprises tending to advance the interests
of Mitchell, and he was chosen the first mayor
of the town, in which position he gave a most
able and progressive administration, while he
also rendered equally effective service during
the five years that he was a member of the city
council. He is now president of the Mitchell
Alfalfa Milling Company and the Mitchell
Electric Light Company, and is one of the
foremost boosters of the fine little city, in
which he has established his home. His polit-
ical support is given to the Democratic party,
he is affiliated with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, and he is a member of the Con-
gregational church, his wife holding member-
ship in the Christian church.
The year 1902 made record of the marriage
of IMr.'Linden to Miss Elizabeth S. Sullivan,
who was born in Illinois and who is a daughter
of John Sullivan. Mr. and Mrs. Linden have
a pleasant home in Mitchell and the same is
notable for its generous hospitality and good
cheer, the while it is brightened by the presence
of their five children — Raymond, Devona,
Kenneth. Dorothy, and Doris.
MIKE BEERLINE. — The senior member
of the firm of Beerline & Scott, hardware
merchants of Bridgeport, Mike Beerline, be-
longs to that class of men who have fought
their own way to position and independence
through the exercise of qualities which have
been developed under the stiinulating influ-
ence of their own necessities. When he en-
tered upon his career he had little save his
ambition and his yet undeveloped native abil-
ity to assist him, but so ably has he directed
his activities that he has elevated himself to
a place of commercial prestige and has as-
sisted in making the enterprise with which
he is connected one of Bridgeport's necessary
business adjuncts.
Mr. Beerline was born October 16, 1857, in
Auglaize county, Ohio, a son of Henry and
Christina (Elsass) Beerline, the former a
native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio.
They were married in the Buckeye state, and
in 1865 moved to Nebraska, where the father
was engaged in agricultural pursuits until
1867, when the family removed to Missouri,
where Mr. Beerline met with a measure of suc-
cess and remained until his death. In 1871,
the widow and children returned to Nebraska,
locating in Sarpy county. The father was a
Democrat in politics, and his religious faith
was that of the Lutheran church. To this
denomination belongs Mrs. Beerline, who sur-
vives him as a resident of Papilion, Nebraska.
They were the parents of five children : Mike,
Mrs. Eaton, the wife of an automobile garage
proprietor at Papilion ; George, who is carry-
ing on agricultural operations in Morrill coun-
ty, this state ; Henry, successfully engaged in
the implement business at Papilion, and Wil-
liam, a farmer in the vicinity of Broadwater,
Nebraska.
Mike Beerline was but sixteen years of age
when he accompanied his widowed mother to
Papilion, Nebraska, where he attended the
public school, residing there until 1887, in
which year he located in Morrill county and
took up a tree claim. On this property he re-
sided for some eighteen years, continuing to
till the soil and make improvements until 1905,
the year of his advent in Bridgeport. He had
carefully saved his earnings, and upon his ar-
rival in this enterprising and promising com-
munity invested his capital in a hardware busi-
ness, in partnership with Elbert Scott, under
the style of Beerline & Scott. As a result of
the splendid work and honorable methods of
the partners the business has grown to large
proportions, and now commands an excellent
trade in Bridgeport and throughout the sur-
rounding country. Not only is Mr. Beerline
one of the thoroughly capable business men of
Bridgeport, whose standing in the confidence
of his associates is of the highest order, but he
has also taken an active and constructive part
in civic affairs. He has supported ably and
generously all movements tending to make for
higher education, cleaner morals and better
citizenship, and as a member of the town coun-
cil for ten years was able to apply his inherent
gifts to the securing of needed legislation and
the obtaining of improvements for the place of
his adoption. He is a Democrat in his political
allegiance and is accounted an influential fac-
tor in the ranks of his party in this community.
His onlv fraternal afffliation is with the local
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCITES
119
lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in which he
has numerous friends.
Mr. Beerline was married in 1906 to Miss
Blondina Hanewald, daughter of Martin
Hanewald. They have no children.
ELBERT SCOTT. — With the coming of
Elbert Scott to Bridgeport, in 1894, there was
added to this community the services of a
young man who had both the ambition and the
ability to become a factor of great general use-
fulness. Since that time he has steadily ad-
vanced in position and prosperity, and at the
present day, as a member of the hardware firm
of Beerline & Scott, is accounted one of his
community's substantial business men, occupy-
ing a position which presents him with oppor-
tunities for the commercial and civic advance-
ment of the locality.
Mr. Scott, like numerous other residents of
Morrill county, is a native of the Buckeye
state. He was bom at Palmyra, Ohio, ]\Iarch
1, 1869, his parents being Alexander and Har-
riet (McKensie) Scott. His father, born in
Pennsylvania, was a young man when he mi-
grated to Ohio, and there married a native of
that state and entered upon his career as the
operator of a farm. In later life, when his
agricultural ventures had proven successful,
he branched out into other pursuits and for
some years carried on a successful contracting
business. Both he and his wife were faithful
members of the Latter Day Saints, in the faith
of which denomination they passed away. Mr.
Scott was a Democrat in politics, was elected
to township offices on several occasions, and
was a man of considerable influence in his
community, where he was universally respect-
ed. There were eight children in the family,
of whom seven are living, but only two reside
in Nebraska: Rosel P., who is engaged in
farming near Bridgeport, and Elbert.
Elbert Scott enjoyed the benefits to be ac-
quired through attendance at the public schools
of Ohio, and remained in his native state as an
associate of his father in farming until June,
1894, when he came to Nebraska and located
at Bridgeport. Here he secured employment
with the Belmont Canal Company, and later
conducted a ranch for several years. He re-
ceived his introduction to the hardware busi-
ness with the concern of Elter & Company, an
association which continued from 1904 until
1906, the latter year Mr. Scott embarked in an
enterprise on his own account, in partnership
with Mike Beerline, under the firm style of
Beerline & Scott. From a modest beginning,
the partners have built up an excellent business,
anrl their affairs are in a flourishing condition,
while their standing in business circles is of
the best. Mr. Scott is a man of sound and
practical ideas, possessed of clear judgment and
good business sense, and has made a thorough
study of the hardware trade, as well as of the
needs of the community at large and his pat-
rons in particular. His reputation for integ-
rity has been honestly won through years of
honorable dealing, while his good citizenship
has been evidenced by his cooperation in move-
ments of a progressive and beneficial char-
acter.
Mr. Scott was married in 1910 to Miss
Mabel Pool, who was born in Illinois. They
have no cJiildren of their own, but have an
adopted daughter, Sylvia, who was born in
April, 1918. Fraternally, Mr. Scott is afifili-
ated with the local lodge of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed
through the chairs, and both he and Mrs. Scott
are members of the Rebekahs. His political
tendencies cause him to support the candidates
and principles of the Democratic party.
LLOYD WIGGINS. — Beginning as a
clerk in a country store, Lloyd Wiggins,
cashier of the First National Bank of Bridge-
port, Nebraska, probably learned lessons in
patience, accuracy and courtesy that have re-
mained with him through many years of bus-
iness life and have been helpful from the be-
ginning to the present. A bank cashier very
often has need of all these qualities in his deal-
ings with his fellow men and responding to the
many and varied demands of the public. Mr.
Wiggins has been identified with the First Na-
tional since 1915 and is one of its most popular
officials. He was born May 8, 1881, in Cosh-
octon county, Ohio, the son of Warren and
Ruth (Pigman) Wiggins, both of whom were
born in Coshocton county, where the father
still lives. The mother died there in January,
1914. Of their six children, Lloyd is the
youngest of the three survivors, the others be-
ing: Mrs. Etta Russell, of Martinsburg,
Knox county, Ohio, and D. M., a blacksmith
at Bladensburg, Ohio. The family was reared
in the Christian church. The father is a re-
tired carpenter. His father, Kinsey Wiggins,
was born in Ohio and died there and he also
was a carpenter. The maternal grandparents
of Mr. Wiggins were James and Mary (Hook-
er) Pigman. both of whom came to Ohio from
Maryland, in 1910. He was a preacher in the
Methodist Episcopal church, a circuit-rider,
and continued to travel back and forth per-
forming his religious duties as long as he lived.
Lloyd Wiggins attended the public schools
and then accepted a position as clerk in a coun-
120
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
try store, but this did not offer advantages for
the future and Mr. Wiggins soon made his
way to Zanesville. There, for three years, he
saw hfe from the platform of a street car.
The next change was to the West and for one
year he sensed as a clerk in a grocery store at
Victory. Colorado, but this also was but a
stepping-stone, for Mr. Wiggins had the ambi-
tion and knew he had the ability, to satisfac-
torily fill a much more important position. In
December. 1906, he came to Mitchell, Nebras-
ka, to enter the employ of Carr & Neff, lum-
ber dealers, and subsequently bought an in-
terest in the business, an association which
lasted for eight years, as he attended to the
company's interests at Mitchell, Scottsbluff
and Bridgeport, in this way becoming well
known to solid men of business who were not
slow in recognizing his business capacity and
strict integrity. In 1915 he came to the First
National Bank as assistant cashier and in the
following year became cashier. This flourish-
ing institution is capitalized at $25,000, has a
surplus of $5,000, and average deposits of
$180,000.
On June 8, 1910, Mr. Wiggins was united in
marriage to Miss Augusta M. Mack, who was
born in Germany. She is a member of the Pres-
byterian church. Mr. Wiggins has never been
unduly interested in politics but is a sound Re-
publican and freely expresses his reasons for
being of that political faith, but has never been
willing to accept any public office. He is de-
voted to his business, his home and friends,
and finds many of the latter among the Masons
and Odd Fellows, to which fraternities he has
belonged many years, at present being senior
warden of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., and
past grand in the latter organization.
ALBERT T. SEYBOLT, whose name
stands for business integrity at Bridgeport,
established himself here in the real estate line,
in a small way, in September, 1910. The bus-
iness has expanded into a large enterprise, in
which Mr. Seybolt requires the help of three
assistants. Good business judgment, careful
attention to clients, strict honesty and prompt
fulfilling of obligations have brought this pro-
gress alx)ut, and perhaps no dealer in real es-
tate, insurance and abstracts in this section en-
joys, in greater degree, the confidence of the
public. Mr. Seybolt is a native of Nebraska,
born at Plattsmouth, February 26, 1875, the
son of George A. and Mary J. (Thome) Sey-
bolt, both born in 1843, in Orange county. New
York. They were reared, educated and mar-
ried in the Empire state, and came from there
to Nebraska late in 1874, but unfavorable con-
ditions in the new country caused them to re-
turn to New York in 1877. Ten years later, in
1887, they again came to Nebraska and Mr.
Seybolt preempted land in Custer county and
took a tree claim. In later years he resided at
Lincoln, engaging there in the real estate bus-
iness, and to some extent, was interested in
Democratic politics. The mother died in 1904
and the father now lives at San Diego, Cal-
ifornia. Of their five children, Albert T. was
the third born, the others being as follows :
Anna, who resides at Ashland, Nebraska ;
Floyd, who now lives retired at Lincoln, was
formerly a Federal bank examiner; Andrew
D.. whose home is at Ashland, Nebraska, and
Sarah, the wife of James A. Kurk, who is in
the real estate business at Broken Bow, Ne-
braska.
After Albert T. Seybolt had completed his
course in the public schools at Lincoln, he went
to work on his father's farm in Custer county
where he remained nine years, then removed
to Douglas county and continued agricultural
pursuits, for a time enjoying the same, and
still takes an interest in looking after his fine
irrigated farms. After some experience on
the road for a well known insurance company,
Mr. Seybolt came to Bridgeport and embarked
in the insurance business himself, in connec-
tion with handling real estate, and has greatly
prospered as noted above. His is a conspicu-
ous example of close attention to business,
bringing commensurate results.
On December 31, 1901, Mr. Seybolt was
united in marriage to Miss Bessie L. Milmine,
who was bom at Kenney, Dewitt county, Illi-
nois, the only daughter of Murray M. and
Delia (Kent) Milmine. The father was born
at Hamilton, Canada, September 23, 1843, and
now resides at Lincoln, Nebraska. The
mother was born at Lansingville, New York,
September 14, 1845, and died October 11,
1896. They were married at Maroa, Illinois,
December 31, 1867, lived for a time in Illinois
but later came to Nebraska. Mrs. Seybolt has
one brother, Edward K.. who takes care of the
abstract department of Mr. Seybolt's office.
Mr. and Mrs. Seybolt have one daughter,
Marian, now attending school. The family
belongs to the Presbyterian church and Mr.
Seybolt has served on its board of trustees at
Bridgeport. Ever since locating here he has
been active in all movements promising sub-
stantial benefit to city or county. From prin-
ciple, he votes with the Republican party, but
political office has no attraction for him equal
to that of business.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
121
ZADOCK GOODWIN, a resident of
Mitchell, Scottsbluff county, who takes pride in
claiming the fine old Hoosier state as the place
of his nativity, was a young man of twenty-
three when he came with his father to Ne-
braska and established his residence in Box
Butte county, and thus to whom may be justly
accorded pioneer honors in the famous Pan-
handle of the state, to which this history is ded-
icated. He has been a prominent and influ-
ential force in connection with the development
of farm industry in this section of the state
and he and his wife are now the owners of a
large and well-improved landed estate in
Scottsblufif county, where their attractive home
is situated about twenty-five miles distant from
the thriving little city of Mitchell, which is
their postoffice address.
Mr. Goodwin was born in the vicinity of
Greencastle, Putman county, Indiana, on the
9th day of January, 1867, a son of Zadock
Goodwin, who was born in Ohio and who was
one of the most venerable citizens of Box Butte
county, Nebraska, at the time of his death, in
1912, when he was ninety years of age. The
maiden name of the mother of the subject of
this sketch was Nancy Sigler, and she likewise
was born near Greencastle, Indiana, her death
having occurred when she was about forty
years of age. Zadock Goodwin, Sr., was a
farmer in Indiana and from that state he final-
ly removed to Iowa, where he became a pioneer
in the realm of agricultural and live-stock en-
terprise and where he remained until 1886,
when he came to Nebraska and took up a
homestead and a tree claim in Box Butte coun-
ty. To this tract of 320 acres he later made
very appreciable additions, and he became
largely and prominently identified with the
raising of cattle in this section of the state.
where he became well known as a man of
sterling character and marked business ability.
He whose name initiates this article was a
boy at the time of the family removal to Potta-
watamie county, Iowa, where he received the
advantages of the public schools and where also
he gained his initial experience in connection
with agricultural enterprise and the stock busi-
ness. In 1886 he accompanied his father to
Box Butte county, Nebraska, where he took a
preemption claim, to which he perfected his
title and which he finally sold. In 1895 he be-
came a pioneer farmer in Scottsblufif county.
He has wisely made investment in land in this
county and now has a valuable estate of 2000
acres, of which 160 acres are supplied with
irrigation and given over to the raising of
diversified crops. On his extensive ranch Mr.
Goodwin likewise gives special attention to the
raising of cattle and other livestock of excel-
lent types and he has erected good buildings
and made other modern improvements on the
place. Though he still gives a general super-
vision to this fine estate, which he now rents, he
is living virtually retired, in the enjoyment of
the ample rewards for former years of intense
and well-ordered activity as one of the world's
productive workers. He is a staunch advocate
of the principles for which the Democratic
party stands sponsor in a basic sense and is a
liberal and loyal citizen. His wife and daugh-
ters hold membership in the Presbyterian
church.
In 1894 was recorded the marriage of Mr.
Goodwin to Miss Lennie Shull. who was born
in Monroe county, Iowa. Her father, Isaac
Shull, was born in Indiana, as a representative
of one of the very early pioneer families of the
state. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have two chil-
dren : Hildred, who remains at the parental
home, was graduated in the University of Ne-
braska with the degree of Bachelor of Arts;
and Mary, who likewise remains at the
parental home, was graduated in the Mitchell
high school, as a member of the class of 1919.
CHARLES F. CLAWGES, who has been
identified with Bridgeport interests since the
town's earliest days, serving as its first post-
master and in other important capacities, is a
native of Missouri, born at Trenton, February
23, 1865. He has lived in at least four states
in the Union but has long claimed Nebraska
as his home. He came to Cheyenne county in
1900.
The parents of Mr. Clawges were Dr. J. W.
F. and Charlotte (Galander) Clawges, the for-
mer of whom was born in Kentucky and died
in Missouri in 1869. The mother of Mr.
Clawges was bom at Gottenberg, Sweden,
eighty-five years ago. She vividly recalls the
long voyage from Sweden to the United States
made in her youth in a sailing vessel that was
on the water for three months before landing
its passengers at New Orleans. In her long
life she has witnessed many wonderful things
come to pass, but the marvels of rapid trans-
portation perhaps interest her most. She was
united in marriage to Dr. J. W. F. Clawges at
Annawan, Henr>- county, Illinois. During the
Civil War he was regimental surgeon of the
Seventh ^Missouri Cavalry, and afterward en-
gaged in the practice of his profession in Mis-
souri until his death. He belonged to the Ma-
sonic fraternity. There were six children bom
to Dr. and Mrs. Clawges as follows: Una,
who is the wife of J. W. Cartwright, a car-
penter and contractor at Bridgeport; Lottie,
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
who is the wife of William Forrest, an attor-
ney at Peoria, Illinois ; Laura, who is the wife
of W. A. Shellheimer, a farmer near Chilli-
cothe, Missouri ; Charles F. and Jack, who are
twins, both of whom live at Bridgeport, and
Daniel F., who is assistant postmaster at Kan-
sas City, Missouri. The mother, who resides
with her son Charles F., is a member of the
Seventh Day Adventist church.
Charles F. Clawges completed his high
school course at Annawan, Illinois, after which
he spent some time in the Northwest Normal
School at Geneseo, Illinois. For two years
afterward he taught school in Illinois, then
went to Kansas, where for three years he was
employed in a railroad office, when he was
transferred to St. Louis, Missouri, and re-
mained in the same capacity there for three
years, following which he spent one vear at
Spokane Falls, Washington. In 1900 Mr.
Clawges came to Cheyenne county and went
on a ranch with his brother Jack, the latter at
the present time being superintendent of the
boiler room in the Burlington shops at Bridge-
port.
In 1895 Mr. Clawges was united in marriage
to Miss Mary Leaf, who was born in Boone
county, Iowa. She was the first wife and
mother in the Bridgeport settlement and the
first child born here was the son of l\lr. and
Mrs. Clawges, Dan, whose bright young life
went out during the influenza epidemic, No-
vember 24, 1918, at the age of seventeen years.
Mr. and Mrs. Clawges have a daughter, Una,
who is attending school. Mrs. Clawges is a
member of the Adventist church.
In 1901 Mr. Clawges was appointed post-
master of the new town of Bridgeport and
continued in office for four years, and in many
ways, as a^j intelligent and reputable citizen,
was useful in bringing about stable conditions.
For some years he conducted a barber shop
and was influential in bringing other business
concerns to the place. He invested in land as
his good judgment recognized the opportunity,
and now owns a valuable farm of 200 acres all
irrigated. Since retiring from active business
life at Bridgeport he has been a very success-
ful salesman of automobiles for the Mitchell
Car Company. In politics he is a Republican,
and he has long been identified with the order
of Knights of Pythias.
EDGAR C. PORTER. — Among Bridge-
port's retired fanners are found some of the
most substantial citizens of Morrill county.
They are more than that, for they usually are
men of such good business judgment and
stable personal character, as to be a valuable
controlling element in the regulation of civic
aiifairs and a check on unwise expenditures.
They have had experience. Not many of them
had wealth when they came to Nebraska, and
the ample fortunes they now enjoy, have only
been secured through hard work, self denial,
and close economy. They are examples of the
value of the above qualities that, in times of
national extravagance and distress, may well
be listed as virtues. A prominent retired
farmer of Bridgeport is found in Edgar C.
Porter, who came to Nebraska in 1894. He
was bom in Madison countv, Iowa, February
8, 1859.
The parents of Mr. Porter were John and
Nancy Ellen (Crager) Porter, the former of
whom was born in West Virginia and the lat-
ter in Ohio, in which state they were married.
They were pioneers in Madison county, Iowa,
where the father secured government land at
$1.25 an acre, to the development and improve-
ment of which he devoted the rest of his active
life. Ten children were born to them and
eight still live, Edgar C. being the fifth born.
He has one brother, Samuel, living in Dakota,
but the other brothers and sisters have re-
mained in Iowa. The father supported with
vigor the principles of the Republican party,
and both parents were faithful members of the
Methodist Episcopal church, with which the
mother united when fourteen years old. Ed-
gar C. Porter attended the country schools
near his father's farm in ]\Iadison county, and
early learned to be useful. He remained at
home until about twenty-six years old and then
started out for himself, pioneering after the
manner of his father by coming westward,
reaching Denver. Colorado, in 1885. He
homesteaded in that vicinity and lived on his
place for five years and then disposed of it.
After eight years in Colorado, he came to Ne-
braska and in 1894 settled on North river in
Cheyenne county, renting land for several
years. In 1903 he purchased a tract of school
land, to which he has added from time to time,
until he now owns an entire section, 100 acres
of which are irrigated and the rest is operated
under a dry farming system. It may be re-
marked that the only property Mr. Porter
owned when he came to Nebraska was a team
and wagon, cow and calf. Now, in addition
to his land above mentioned, Mr. Porter owns
valuable town property as does Mrs. Porter,
who also owns a section in Morrill county.
They have a beautiful residence at Bridgeport
into which they moved in 1913.
In 1894 Mr. Porter was married to Miss
Hattie Mount, who is a daughter of William
and Sarah (Stumpfif) Mount, the former of
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
123
whom was born in Shelby county, Illinois,
May 2, 1849, and the latter in Fairfield county,
Ohio. In 1884 William Mount came to Buf-
falo county, Nebraska, subsequently lived in
Logan, Weld and Sedgwick counties, and in
1894 came to western Nebraska. He bought
land along the Belmont Ditch and followed
farming there for six years, then bought farms
in Morrill county. Later he sold his home-
stead, retired to Bridgeport in 1910, and looks
after several acres of land adjacent to other
town property. In 1871 Mr. Mount was mar-
ried to Sarah StumpfT, and Mrs. Porter is the
eldest of their nine children. Mr. Mount is a
Republican and has long taken an active part
in political affairs, believing good citizenship
demands it.
Mr. and Mrs. Porter have three children:
Claudia, a popular teacher and well known in
social circles at Bridgeport ; Florence, who re-
sides at home, and j\Iarjorie, who is yet in
school. Mr. Porter and his family are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church. He has al-
ways been affiliated with the Republican party
but has never consented to hold office. He oc-
cupies his leisure time pleasantly with looking
over his farm and stock within a short distance
of Bridgeport.
CHARLES O. MORRISON. — Foremost
among the citizens of Morrill county, whose
business success and high personal character
entitle them to prominence, is Charles O. Mor-
rison, vice president of the First National
Bank of Bayard, and the owner also of a large
acreage of valuable land. Although a native
of another state, Mr. Morrison has passed the
greater portion of his life in Nebraska, lived
on a farm until he was twenty-three years old
and started out for himself on a limited cap-
ital. He was born at Dixon, Illinois, August
10, 1862.
The parents of Mr. Morrison, William F.
and Virginia (Lichtenberger) Morrison, were
born, reared and married in Pennsylvania. Of
their ten children eight are living, two of them
being in Morrill county, namely: Charles O.
and E. W., the latter a retired resident of Bay-
ard, Nebraska. The parents located at Dixon,
Illinois, in 1861 and the father engaged in
farming in Lee county until 1870, when he de-
cided to seek better opportunities in the West.
He brought his family to York county, Ne-
braska, the journey being made in a covered
wagon after the fashion of the old Conestoga,
dear to the pioneers, and shortly after reaching
here he homesteaded and both parents of Mr.
Morrison spent the rest of their lives in York
county, passing away at Bradshaw. The father
became a man of consequence, serving in the
early organization of the county, later as coun-
ty commisioner and in other offices of re-
sponsibility. He was one of the early Masons
in York county and assisted in establishing the
Christian church.
Charles O. Morrison attended the country
schools in York county and remained on the
home farm until 1884 when he embarked in
the mercantile business. For twenty-six years
he was a merchant, first at Bradshaw, later at
Phillips and then at Bayard, being in this line
at Bayard for seventeen years. He disposed
of his mercantile interests in December, 1916.
Mr. Morrison assisted in the organization of
the First National Bank at Bayard, in 1910,
and has served ever since in the office of vice
president. The latest bank statement gives the
following facts concerning this reliable finan-
cial institution: Capital, $50,000; profits and
surplus, $20,000; average deposits, $450,000.
The accommodations rendered by this bank
and the courtesy accorded patrons have been
greatly appreciated.
On September 1, 1896. Mr. Morrison was
united in marriage to Miss Catherine Miller,
who was born at Toledo, Ohio. Her father,
James C. Miller, came to Phillips, Nebraska,
in 1889 and subsequently died there. Mr.
Morrison is a member of the Episcopal church.
He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs
also to the Royal Highlanders and the Modern
Woodmen. His political affiliation has always
been with the Republican party and at times he
has' served very usefully in town offices and
for thirteen years has been a member of the
town board. Mr. Morrison has invested ex-
tensively in land in Morrill county, presum-
ably with the foresight of a keen and experi-
enced business man, and now owns 1040 acres,
400 of which is irrigated.
WILLIAM T. McKELVEY, who is one of
Bayard's respected retired citizens, can look
back over thirty-three busy years in Nebraska,
during which he built up an ample fortune,
from a very small beginning. Mr. McKelvey
was born in Clark county, Illinois, in 1857.
The parents of Mr. McKelvey were Patrick
and Mary (Campbell) McKelvey. the former
of whom was born in County Donegal, Ire-
land, and the latter in Kentucky. They both
came to Clark county, Illinois, in early life and
were married there. The father of Mr. Mc-
Kelvey served in the Mexican War and after-
ward was a farmer and merchant in Clark
county. He held a number of township offices
in the gift of the Democratic party. He died
in Clark county, but the mother of Mr. Mc-
124
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Kelvey died in Nebraska, in 1918, having lived
with her son Wilham T. for over twenty years.
Of their eight children the following are
living, in addition to William T. : Lavona, who
is the widow of Lafayette Beard, of Topeka,
Kansas ; Lydia May, who is the wife of James
Beacham, a retired farmer of O'Neill, Nebras-
ka; and Horatio A., who is a farmer in Minne-
sota. The parents were members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal church.
William T. McKelvey obtained his educa-
tion in the district schools in Clark county and
worked on his father's farm. He was not
robust as a boy and remained at home until he
was twenty-seven years old, then came west,
and in the active outdoor life and strenuosity
of existence on the range, found health as did
one of America's greatest statesman, the late
Theodore Roosevelt. Mr. McKelvey located
in Cheyenne, now Morrill county, in 1886,
where he homesteaded and for a number of
years rode range as a cowboy. He owns a
large acreage in the county yet, for years being
interested extensively as a stockman, and has
property at Bayard, where, for one year before
he retired, he was engaged in a real estate bus-
iness. Mr. McKelvey passed through the
hardships that attended the pioneers in the
early eighties in this section of Nebraska, but
he never became discouraged and now enjoys
the fruits of his endurance and toil. He has
been active in the Republican party both be-
fore and since locating at Bayard, has served
in public office and was an exceedingly useful
member of the first county board of commis-
sioners. In every way, for years, he has done
much to further the interests of Morrill
county.
In 1892 Mr. McKelvey was united in mar-
riage to Miss Jennie W^ebb, who was born in
Clark county, Illinois. During the great war,
Mr. McKelvey was foremost in patriotic work
and was particularly active and interested in
the Y. M. C. A. activities and was chairman
of the local board.
HENRY E. RANDALL. — To the pleas-
ant town of Bayard have come many men of
ample fortune after many years of toil and
financial struggle, finding liere well earned ease
with agreeable surroundings and pleasant com-
panionship. These retired farmers and stock-
men are desirable citizens in every respect and
form a solid, dependable body that adds to the
community's resources and gives assistance in
the maintenance of law and order. One of the
highly respected retired residents of Bayard is
Henry E. Randall, who is well known all over
Morrill county. Mr. Randall was born in
Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, April 25,
1869.
The parents of Mr. Randall were James M.
and Lucy (Hasson) Randall, the former of
whom was bom in Michigan, and the latter in
New York. They were married in Wisconsin,
this being the father's second union. Three
children of his first marriage survive, namely:
Charles, who is a miner in Nevada ; Otis, who
lives near Bridgeport, and Mrs. Elmer Hath-
away, who is a resident of Morrill. Three
children were bom to the father's second mar-
riage : Henry E., Dean and Arthur. Dean is
a farmer near Melbeta in Scottsbluff county,
Nebraska, and Arthur has been a mail
carrier at Gering for a number of years. The
father survives and resides at Gering. He is
a member of the G. A. R. post there, having
served in the Civil War as a member of Com-
pany I, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry. The
family came to Nebraska in 1886 and the
mother died here.
Henry E. Randall obtained his education in
the public schools of Minnesota, where his
parents lived for a time before coming to Ne-
braska. In the spring of 1886 the family
reached what now is Morrill county, Cheyenne
at that time, and in 1886 he homesteaded and
kept the property until quite recently when he
sold to advantage. As opportunity offered he
bought other land and at one time owned 800
acres, his farms, four in number, being sit-
uated at different points. On one of these
farms Mr. Randall lived for twenty-five years
and during that time was an extensive raiser
of cattle and stock. He retired to Bayard in
March, 1916, and is a stockholder and one of
the directors of the Farmers State Bank.
In 1891 Mr. Randall was united in marriage
to Miss Melissa Belden, who was born in Kan-
sas, and they have three children: Gerald,
Gladys and Mack, the youngest son being yet
in school. The one daughter is the wife of
Merl Garwood, of Morrill county. The eldest
son of Mr. Randall has an honorable military
record. He was bom July 24, 1895. was edu-
cated in Morrill county, and entered military
service for action in the World War, 1917.
He was attached to six different training
camps, namely: Waco, Kelly. Field, and
others, and at the time the armistice was
signed with the enemy, was at Fort Sill and at
Lee Hall. Virginia, just ready to sail for
France. Since his discharge and return home,
he has gladly resumed peaceful pursuits and
has a place with the working force in the sugar
factory.
Mr. Randall was quite active in Republican
politics for many years and as a member of
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
125
the board of county commisioners, on which
he served six years, when he resigned on ac-
count of ill health, he was able to greatly fur-
ther the best interests of the county in many
ways. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and
also to the Modem Woodmen.
DENVER NEWTON PLUMMER is an-
other of the progressive citizens who has shown
the skill and enterprise that make for success
in connection with industrial enterprise in the
favored section of Nebraska to which this his-
tory is dedicated. In section 7, township 23-56,
about four and one-half miles distant from
]\Iorrill, Scottsbluf¥ county, is to be found the
well improved and ably managed farm of Air.
Plummer. He came to the county in 1910 and
here purchased land in the north central part of
this progressive county. To his original do-
main he has since added until he now has a
valuable landed property of 240 acres, all under
effective irrigation and having the intrinsic
richness of soil that makes irrigation farming
so remarkably profitable in this locality. He
has made excellent improvements on his land,
including the erection of good buildings, and is
one of the resourceful and representative agri-
culturists and stock-growers of his county, with
a high personal standing that indicates fully the
estimate placed upon him by his fellow men.
Loyal to all civic duties and responsibilities,
Mr. Plummer has given his support to meas-
ures and enterprises that have been projected
for the benefit of his community and county,
and in local politics he is independent, though
in a basic way he advocates and upholds the
principles for which the Republican party
stands sponsor. Both he and his wife hold
membership in the Methodist Episc(i[)al church
in Dutch Flats.
Denver Plummer was born near the city of
Des Aloines, Iowa, on the 29th of January,
1871, a son of James and Sarah Lavena (Gar-
rett) Plummer. The parents were born and
reared in the old Buckeye state and the father
was one of the early settlers of Iowa, where he
accompanied his parents at an early age, and
where he reclaimed a pioneer farm. The fam-
ily later removed to Colorado and Ezra Plum-
mer and his wife passed the closing years of
their lives in the state of Colorado, both having
been earnest members of the Methodist Epis-
copal church and his political faith having been
that of the Republican party. Concerning their
children adequate mention is made on other
pages, in the sketch of the career of John W.
Plummer, an elder brother of the subject of
this review.
Denver Plummer was about eleven years of
age at the time of the family removal from
Iowa to Colorado, in which latter state he was
reared to maturity and received the advantages
of the public schools. Prior to coming to Ne-
braska he had given his attention principally to
farming and was owner of land in Larimer
county, and the maximum success that has
marked his career has been that gained since
he established his home in Scottsbluff county
and assumed the labors and responsibilities in-
cidental to the development of a productive
farm. He has not waited for success but has
won it through his own efforts, though he gives
full credit to Scottsbluf? county for the splen-
did opportunities it has afforded him.
In 1905 Mr. Plummer was united in mar-
riage to Miss Cora Drummond, who was born
in the state of Missouri, and their marriage has
been blessed by three children — Veda Vir-
ginia, Ezra Allen, and Mvian Margaret — who
lend brightness and cheer to the pleasant fam-
ily home.
WALTER J. ERICSON, who is one of
Bayard's representative citizens and substan-
tial business men, is president of the Farmers
State Bank and is also the head of the Ericson
Hardware Company. In many ways he has
been active in the development of Bayard and
stands deservedly high in public esteem. He
was born at Bertrand, in Phelps county, Ne-
braska, in 1885.
The parents of Mr. Ericson, John and Mary
(Peterson) Ericson, were born in Sweden.
They came to the United States in the early
eighties, acquired land in Phelps county, Ne-
braska, that is still in the possession of the
family, and the father died on the homestead
in the spring of 1919. The family lived at first
in a sod house, as did many of their pioneer
neighbors, and the father cultivated his land
with oxen. Of his family of nine children,
Walter J. was the fourth in order of birth.
The other survivors are : Charles, in the drug
business at Loomis, Nebraska; Frank, a gen-
eral merchant at Hillrose, Morgan county, Col-
orado; Axel, a druggist at Bayard; Harry,
also in the drug business at Bayard; Esther,
the wife of Victor J. Johnson, operating the
old Ericson homestead, and Emil, associated
with his brother, Walter J., in the hardware
business. He was born at Bertrand in 1890
and came to Bayard in August, 1915. On No-
vember 21, 1917, Emil Ericson was married to
Miss Alta Durnal, who is a daughter of R. F.
Durnal.
Walter J. Ericson was reared on his father's
farm near Bertrand, where he attended school,
and remained in Phelps county until 1911,
when he came to Bayard, where his brother
126
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Frank was conducting a hardware business.
He purchased his brother's hardware store and
reorganized the business and it is now widely
known as the Ericson Hardware Company, his
brother Emil, as mentioned above, being asso-
ciated with him. As president of the Farmers
State Bank, he is additionally well known in
commercial circles. While business claims
much of his time, Mr. Ericson. as an earnest
citizen, has concerned himself with civic de-
velopment and bettennent, and is an active,
fearless and useful member of the city council,
in which body he is serving his second term.
In politics Mr. Ericson is a Republican, as was
his father. He belongs to the Masons and the
Odd Fellows.
GEORGE G. CRONKLETON, who is
cashier of the First National Bank of Bayard,
has been identified with the banking business
during many years of his life and has been
connected with the above institution since the
spring of 1911. Mr. Cronkleton is held in high
esteem at Bayard, where he has, on numerous
occasions, been called to public office, in which
he has served faithfully and conscientiously,
and he has furthered many desirable public
enterprises by the influence of his active in-
terest. He is a native of Iowa, and was born
March 14, 1876, at Dunlap, in Harrison
county.
The parents of Mr. Cronkleton were Ezra
J. and Julia (O'Hare) Cronkleton, the former
of whom was born in Ohio, and the latter in
Ireland. The father went to Iowa when a
young man and served in the Civil War as a
member of Company C, Second Iowa Cavalry,
until captured by the enemy. He was a pris-
oner of war for ten months in Alabama. After
returning from his exhausting experiences in
the war, he traveled about for a time and then
was married at Boone, Iowa, located soon
afterward at Dunlap, and for many years was
engaged in business there as a contractor and
builder. His death occurred at Dunlap on Au-
gust 17, 1913. In his earlier years he belonged
to the Christian church but later became a
Catholic, of which church his wife was a de-
voted member. Of their five children. George
G. is the third of the survivors, the others be-
ing: Charles ]., who is a resident of Council
Blufifs, Iowa; Mary J., and Eugenia, both of
whom live at Council Blufifs.
After completing the high school course at
Dunlap. Mr. Cronkleton became deputy post-
master and subsequently deputy county auditor
of Harrison county, his financial talents being
thus early recognized and called into play.
After retiring from office he accepted the posi-
tion of assistant cashier in the First National
Bank of Dunlap and remained with that insti-
tution for six years. He then made a visit to
the Pacific coast and during his sojourn there
served as cashier of the First National Bank
of Ritzville, Washington. In the meanwhile
his brother had engaged in the grocery trade at
Council Bluff's, and when Mr. Cronkleton re-
turned to Iowa he entered his brother's store
and remained there three years. He then vis-
ited Wyoming and once more became identified
with a large financial institution, serving for
one year as assistant cashier of the bank of
Noble, Lane & Noble, at Lander, Wyoming.
He then accepted the office of cashier of the
bank at Henry, Nebraska, and continued as
such for eighteen months. In 1909 he came
to Bayard and in May, 1911, became cashier of
the First National Bank, an institution of
which city and county are proud. It operates
with a capital of $50,000; surplus, $10,000;
average deposits, $450,000.
In November, 1913, Air. Cronkleton was
united in marriage to Miss Anna Morrow, a
daughter of Thomas Morrow, extended men-
tion of whom will be found in this work. Mr.
and Mrs. Cronkleton are members of the Cath-
olic church and he belongs to the Knights of
Columbus. In his political affiliation he has
always been a Republican. He has served as
a United States commissioner, and since com-
ing to Bayard has been town clerk and also a
member of the school board.
THOMAS F. WATKINS, who, probably
is as well known in Morrill county as any other
individual, unless Mrs. Watkins, his admirable
wife be excepted, came to Bayard in 1910.
Since then Mr. and Mrs. Watkins have owned
the Commercial hotel and have had much
to do with the development of what was then
a village into the close semblance of a city.
Mr. Watkins was born at Swansea, Wales,
May 27, 1848.
The parents of Mr. Watkins were Thomas
and Mary (Davis) Watkins. the former of
whom was bom in Wales. December 11, 1814,
and the latter February 27, 1822. They came
to the United States and located on 160 acres
of land in Monroe county, Iowa, when
Thomas F. was an infant. There were two
older children in the family, nine more were
born in America, and besides Thomas F., the
following are living: W. D., who resides at
Long Beach, California; D. M., who owns the
old family homestead in Monroe county,
Iowa; Mary M., who is the wife of Thomas
Lewis, of Long Beach, California, and Mittie,
who is the wife of Martin Haller, a farmer
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
127
near Springfield, ^Missouri. The parents were
members of the Baptist church.
In his boyhood Thomas F. Watkins had but
meager educational advantages. He early
learned to perform farm work and labor in the
coal mines. In 1890 he came to Alliance, Ne-
braska, where he carried on a meat business
for four years, after which he worked on a
ranch in' Box Butte county for four years. In
1898 he came to Morrill county and after mar-
riage took charge of his wife's homestead and
put the property in fine shape. Later he
bought a tract of land near the homestead and
subsequently his wife secured a second home-
stead. In 1910 they moved into Bayard, as
mentioned above, and went into the hotel bus-
iness. The Commercial hotel is known all
through this section and patronage never fails.
At Hemmingford, Nebraska, Mr. Watkins
was married to Mary Nebraska (Joice) Dual,
who is aftectionately known by man in Ne-
braska, as she bears the distinction of having
been the first white child born in Nebraska
City, Neb. In this connection, by her kind
permission, part of a private letter is here
quoted, that will prove interesting to every
reader ;
"My father, Jacob H. Joice, of Dayton, In-
diana, emigrated to eastern Nebraska in the
year 1854 and settled in what is now the thriv-
ing city of Nebraska City, building the fifth
house which was built in this city, obtaining
the material from the natural forest surround-
ing the little place. The population of the sur-
rounding country consisted chiefly of Indians
from the Otoe tribe which, as a general rule,
were very friendly to the white settlers. J. H.
Joice was of Irish descent while his wife, for-
merly Angeline Blacklidge, was of Scotch de-
scent. I was born on the 17th day of Decem-
ber, 1854, and by the request of a prominent
man of the community at that time, I was
named Mary Nebraska, he promising if the
child was so named he would deed her a quar-
ter section of land when she reached her ma-
jority, but this promise was never fulfilled. At
the age of three years I moved with my par-
ents to Iowa, locating where at one time East-
port stood. From Eastport we moved to
Hamburg, Iowa, where I grew to young wo-
manhood and was married. It was only a few
years until I was left a widow, during which
time I lived in Savannah. Missouri. After the
death of my parents the call of my native state
appealed to me so strongly, that I emigrated to
Bayard, Nebraska, where I met and married
Thomas F. Watkins. The first year of our
married life was spent in the city of Alliance,
Nebraska, after which we located on a home-
stead three miles due east of Bayard, Nebras-
ka, where we underwent the hardships and
privations of the early pioneers of that day.
We lived the life of the pioneer ranchman for
about sixteen years, when we moved to Bay-
ard in the year 1910, purchasing and operat-
ing the Commercial hotel of that place. Bay-
ard at that time consisted of a population of
about 200 men, women and children. At this
time the settlers coming from eastern Nebras-
ka and adjoining states, began locating on the
lands adjacent to Bayard, where they organ-
ized a successful irrigating project which
transformed a former desert into a veritable
Garden of Eden." Mrs. Watkins concludes
with expressions of pleasant anticipation con-
cerning the annual homecoming celebration of
the early pioneers of Nebraska City to which
she had been invited and in which she has
found herself a highly honored guest when-
ever she has been able to attend.
Mr. and Mrs. Watkins have had no children
of their own but they raised two children,
Stella Slausen and Richard Dual, the former
of whom is deceased, the latter being a resi-
dent of Bayard. They also raised a nephew of
Mrs. Watkins, Frank Joice, deceased. For
forty-nine years Mr. Watkins has belonged to
the order of Odd Fellows and both he and
Mrs. Watkins are old members of the auxili-
ary order of Rebekah, and both have repre-
sented their local body in the Grand Lodge.
Air. Watkins has never been a politician and
at present he maintains an independent atti-
tude on public questions and votes according
to his own judgment that has been ripened by
many years of thought and mingling with his
fellowmen. Mrs. Watkins has one brother
and one sister, H. A. Joice and Mrs. Hattie
White, both of whom reside at Bigelow, Holt
county, Missouri.
JOHN L. LOEWENSTEIN, who is the
able manager of the L. W. Cox & Company
lumber business at Bayard, is not only an alert
and enterprising business man, but is also an
earnest and useful citizen in a public capacity.
During the seven years of his residence at
Bayard, he has so firmly established himself in
the confidence of his fellow citizens that in
April, 1918, he was elected a member of the
city council and has faithfully performed
every duty pertaining to this ofifice.
John L. Loewenstein was born at Keokuk,
Iowa, in 1882, the only son of Christopher and
Caroline (Schultz) Loewenstein, both of
whom were born at Keokuk, of German par-
entage. The mother died there in 1916, but
the father survives and carries on his business
128
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
of hardware merchant in that city. In politics
the father is a Republican, fraternally is an
Odd Fellow, and all his mature life has been
a member of the German Evangelical church.
Mr. Loewenstein has one sister, Mildred, who
is the wife of Frank Wiseman, who is a sales-
man in the electrical line, at Oakland, Cali-
fornia.
After his public school course at Keokuk,
John L. Loewenstein attended a commercial
school. The first business opening he found
was in a shoe factory and for several years he
remained there and learned the trade. From
there he went into railroad work as an em-
ploye in the main office of the Chicago, Bur-
lington & Quincy. One year later he accepted
a position with the Iowa State Insurance Com-
pany, with which concern he continued for two
years and then embarked in the drug business
on his own account, at Cantril. Iowa, and re-
mained so connected for four years. In the
meanwhile Mr. Lowenstein kept alert as to
other business opportunities, and when he .
found a congenial opening in the lumber trade,
with E. G. Caine, at Indianola, Nebraska, took
advantage of it and continued there until 1912,
when he came to Bayard and accepted his pres-
ent position. He has substantial knowledge
along several lines of activity and a ver\' wide
acquaintance, has a genial manner that wins
friendly attention and an upright character
that in the business world means trustworthi-
ness.
In 1904 Mr. Loewenstein was united in mar-
riage to Miss Edna Frances Caine, who was
bom at Keokuk, Iowa. They have three chil-
dren : Madeline, Lillian, and Josephine. Mr.
and Mrs. Loewenstein are members of the
Presbyterian church. He is a Republican in
his political affiliation, and he belongs frater-
nally to both the Masons and Odd Fellows.
Bayard has made wonderful progress within
the last few years and credit is due those men
of business foresight and true public spirit who
have in every possible way furthered her in-
terests and it is but just to say that Mr.
Loewenstein is one of these.
CHARLES H. HARPOLE. — There are
few lines of reputable business that do not
have adequate representation at Bayard, in
fact the little city can claim same progressive
concerns that would be creditable anywhere.
Reference may be made to the Burke & Har-
pole Company, dealers in general hardware
and furniture and undertakers, the founder of
the business being Charles H. Harpole who
came to Bayard in 1900. He was born in
Warrick county, Indiana, December 15, 1863.
The parents of Mr. Harpole were W. S. and
Elizabeth (Griffith) Harpole, the former of
whom was born in Virginia and the latter in
the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Their
people settled in Indiana when they were
young and they were married there and re-
mained until 1881, when they moved to south-
western Missouri. The father bought land
there and both died on the home farm. Of
their ten children seven are living, Charles H.
being the only one residing in Nebraska. His
educational opportunities were somewhat
meager, confined to a little country school near
his father's farm in southern Indiana. He
grew up on the home farm, accompanied his
parents to Missouri and afterward followed an
agricultural life there until 1900, when he
came to Bayard, Nebraska. Here he saw a
business opening in the hardware line and
started in a small way, in partnership with
D. J. Burke. Immediate success followed as
the village grew into a town and then a city,
and Mr. Harpole and Mr. Burke proved equal
to the occasion. At first they increased their
stock but later found themselves needing more
room and purchased the large brick building
they now occupy. The business is now incor-
porated as the Burke-Harpole Company,
which is capitalized at $30,000. There 'is
hardly an instance in the city where a business
enterprise has developed more rapidly or sub-
stantially. In addition, Mr. Harpole is inter-
ested to some extent in farming, owning valu-
able land in Morrill county.
In August, 1893, Mr. Harpole was united
in marriage to Miss Elneta Mingus, who was
born in Ohio. She died without issue, in
June. 1914. Mr. Harpole was married sec-
ond in 1916 to Miss Emma De Vault, who
was born at St. Louis, Missouri. They are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church
and Mrs. Harpole is active in the various
avenues of beneficence carried on by the
church. Mr. Harpole belongs to no fraternal
body except the Modern Woodmen. He is a
staunch Republican in politics and has served
with great efficiency on the school board and
in other town offices. He is held in high
esteem at Bayard and is numbered with the
representative business men of the place, one
ever ready to encourage worthy enterprises
and generous in his support of charitable
movements.
WILLIAM WEBER. — The year 1887
marked the arrival of Mr. Weber in that part
of old Cheyenne county that is now comprised
in Scottsblufif county, and he became a pioneer
homesteader in the vicinity of the present
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
129
county seat, Gering. Of this original home-
stead of 160 acres he later disposed, after
having made good improvements on the place,
and he then invested in other land, his valu-
able holdings now comprising 240 acres, de-
voted to diversified agriculture and the rais-
ing of excellent types of live stock, and the
greater part of the tract having been supplied
with good irrigation facilities. This admirable
ranch property , accumulated through the
earnest and honorable endeavors of the own-
er, is situated in section 1, township 15, and
is eligibly situated about one-half mile east of
Gering.
Mr. Weber was born in Germany, on the
10th of March, 1863, a son of Anton and
Gertrude (Petz) Weber, both of whom were
born in Cologne, Germany, and both of whom
passed their entire lives in the fatherland of
their nativity.
William Weber acquired his youthful edu-
cation in the excellent schools of his native
land, and he was an ambitious young man of
eighteen years when he severed the home
ties and immigrated to America, in 1881. He
arrived in April of that year and soon made
his way to Illinois, where he continued to be
employed — principally at farm work — until
1887, when he came to Nebraska and num-
bered himself among the pioneers of what is
now Scottsbluff county. Here he has kept
pace with the splendid march of development
and progress, and at all times he has stood
exemplar of the most loyal and public-spirited
citizenship, so that he has a secure place in
popular esteem. He has assisted in the fur-
therance of those movements that have con-
served the best interests of the community and
was for some time president of the Central
Ditch Company, controlling one of the import-
ant irrigation projects of the county. His po-
litical allegiance is given to the Republican
party, he and his family are communicants of
the Catholic church and he is afWiated with
the Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1889 Mr. Weber wedded Miss Minnie
Brown, of Utica, New York, and her death
occurred at the home in Scottsbluff county.
Of this union were born four children: Will-
iam H., is a prosperous farmer in this coun-
ty ; Bert R., likewise is identified with farm
enterprise in the same county and he is in-
dividually mentioned on other pages ; Anna
is the wife of John Fohland. a farmer south
of Melbeta, this county ; and Harry died at the
age of five years. In 1904 Mr. Weber was
united in marriage to Miss Winnie Newby, a
native of Missouri, and she likewise is de-
ceased, the two children of this union having
died in infancy. Mr. Weber contracted a
third marriage, when Miss Ida Davis became
his wife, she having been born and reared in
Nebraska.
GOTTFRIED KA:\IANN is one of the
sturdy, hardy pioneers of Nebraska, who has
known the lianKliips rind prixatiuiis nf early
settlers in the wrst ami wIki ha^ contributed
his share to tlir upbuililin;; of the county. It
is to this citizen that recognition is here ac-
corded.
Gottfried Kaniann was born in Rhine prov-
ince of the German Empire in 1862, being the
son of Heinrich and Gertrude (Bovenschen)
Kamann, both natives of Germany, where they
were reared and educated. The father was a
blacksmith in the old country who was engaged
in the practice of his vocation for many years,
thus earning a comfortable living for his f;im-
ily. At the age of eighty-one years he bravely
broke all the old ties that bound him to the
land of his birth and sailed for America to
join his children who had established them-
selves in the great "Land of Promise." After
seven years passed with the members of his
family he passed away here at the age of
eighty-eight years and four months.
Gottfried Kamann was reared and educated
in his native province in Germany, received
excellent educational advantages in the pub-
lic schools of Germany which were at that
time condnctnl 1j\- tlie .^tate. and thus laid
the foundation for an excellent practical
education which has proved of great value to
him since coming to the United States and en-
gaging in business independently. He was a
far-sighted youth, saw that with the land in his
native country largely owned ami controlled by
the Junker class, there was little chance or op-
portunity for him to acquire land of his own
and he did not care to spend his life in the
laboring class. For many years Mr. Kamann
had heard of the many advantages to be had
in the I'niteil States and after attaining his
majiirity and his period of military service
over, he decided that his future would be
brighter in America, and on March 6, 1885, set
sail for this country. For two years he was
engaged in varied occupations while learning
the customs of the country and the English
language and thus had an excellent opportunity
to hear of the dififerent sections of the country
and decide which section would be the most
desirable for his home. Mr. Kamann chose
Nebraska, locating on a homestead on the
Dutch Flats in 1887. He at once began im-
130
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
provements on the place, such as farm build-
ings, a house, and as water was the paramount
need of every settler, drilled the first well in
this locality, from which all the neighbors
hauled their water for a long time. The coun-
try was sparsely settled at this period, farm
houses being far apart with great stretches of
prairie separating the primitive homes of these
sturdy pioneers of civilization and Mr.
Kaniann says that he saw antelope, deer and
other wild game running across his land and
could go hunting from his dooryard for sup-
plies of meat. What changes this man has
seen in the brief span which has elapsed since
he first drove into the country, for today the
wide prairies which smiled with wild flowers
in the sun have become a prosperous country-
side of fine farms, dotted with thrifty and
thriving communities that are as barometers of
the country itself. Upon first establishing him-
self here Mr. Kamann had to drive to Sidney
for his supplies but was glad that he had the
money to get them as many of the first men to
locate here had a very hard time, became dis-
couraged and returned to their old homes far-
ther east, but this German was determined that
he would not be daunted by a few hard years.
and his faith in the section has been justified,
and today he is himself the possessor of a com-
fortable fortune won on these prairies of the
west. There were two children in his family,
himself and his sister Elizabeth, who is the
wife of Valentine Thomas, who resides in
Sioux county.
Money was a very scarce commodity in the
west during the early eighties and as Air.
Kamann was a strong, healthy man. he found
employment with the construction men when
the railroad was built from Broken Bow to
Alliance, and with this money was enabled to
place many improvements on his land that
other settlers had to do without or wait to
establish at a later date, after they had man-
aged to sell some of their farm produce at
some distant market. From first locating in
the valley, Mr. Kamann took active part and
interest in all movements for the development
of this section, being one of the first men to
have the vision of what this land would become
with water and as a consequence was one of
the pioneers in irrigation, working on the con-
struction of the first ditch which was to bring
water to the thirsty earth and prosperity to the
Morrill section. This was known as the
"Farmers Canal," which has been such an im-
portant factor in the development of what is
now one of the richest farming sections of the
whole country as well as the most prosperous,
for the river valley soil, with plenty of water
and the never-failing sunshine of the high
prairies, has caused the valley lands of the
Panhandle to become a veritaljle garden spot
where the greatest returns are obtained from
the labor placed upon the land.
In 1891, Mr. Kamann married Miss \\'i\-
hemina Bremer, and to this union five chil-
dren have been born. Those living are : Henry,
a farmer of Scottsbluff county, who responded
to his country's call when the United States
declared war against Germany and served with
the rank of sergeant in the army, but has been
discharged and is again at home: Arthur \\'.,
also a farmer in Scottsbluff' Cdunty; Clara A.,
a school teacher in her home district : and Kath-
arine, who is at home. Mr. Kamann is affili-
ated with the Masonic fraternity and has at-
tained the thirty-second degree. The pioneers
of the eighties and nineties know Mr.
Kamann's early activities and hold him and his
family in high esteem and today he is regarded
as a prominent and leading spirit in the com-
munity.
JOSEPH C. WILLIAMS. — These Hues
concern one of the j'ounger generation of btisi-
ness men — one just a decade beyond his major-
ity ; one who comes of sturdy, fine, old colon-
ial stock, of a family that located on the Atlan-
tic seaboard states during the period of settle-
ment in the tide water region and their indom-
itable courage and characteristics that insure
a high degree of success have been handed
down to the man whose name heads this re-
view. Mr. Williams is the owner and man-
ager of the largest drug house in Henry,
which he established himself and today it is
one of the leading business houses in the val-
ley of Scottsbluff' county.
Mr. Williams is a southerner, as he was
born in Allendale. Barnwell county, south
Carolina, December 12, 1888, being the son
of Joseph J. and Virginia (Wooten) Williams,
the former also a native of South Carolina,
while the mother was born, reared and re-
ceived her early education in Florida. Three
children grew up in the Williams family: Ed-
gar L.. lives at Greeley, Colorado ; Joseph, and
Lelia, who married James T. Pomeroy of Chi-
cago. Joseph J. Williams was a physician
who came west and located in Colorado when
Joseph was a small boy. For many years Dr.
Williams was engaged in the practice of his
profession in Hotchkiss. Colorado, where he
built up a lucratice practice which he enjoyed
until he retired from active life, dying No-
vember 19, 1919, at Hotchkiss, Colorado.
Mrs. Williams died in 1915. Dr. Williams
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
131
was a member of the Baptist church, was for
many years a Democrat in his political faith
and fraternally was allied with the Masonic
order.
Joseph Williams received his early educa-
tional training in the excellent public schools of
Hotchkiss, Colorado. After finishing the ele-
mentary grades he entered the high school,
graduating after a four year course. Follow-
ing this he entered the pharmacy de-
partment of the Colorado State Agriculture
college, where he remained a student until he
received his degree of Ph. G. He was at once
registered as a graduate in pharmacy under
the state pharmacy board and admitted to prac-
tice his profession. Within a short time Mr.
Williams came to Scottsblufif, where he work-
ed for the Great Western Sugar Company
until 1915, when he believed he saw an ex-
cellent opening in Henry and located here. He
opened a modern up-to-date store on the
main street, equipped with every convenience
to handle his trade and now enjoys a fine busi-
ness. A good drug house is one of the neces-
sities of a community and a pharmacist must
use care to give safe and satisfactory results,
as his business is regulated by strict laws of
the state and nation and he is no less responsi-
ble for the health and life of his patrons than
the physician whose prescriptions he is called
on to till. Henry has been fortunate in having
Mr. Williams in whom full reliance can be
placed. He carries a fully equipped stock of
the various medicines, patent medicines and
all lines allied to the drug business which the
public has learned to expect and demand. His
store is very attractive and is one of the
most prosperous representative business cen-
ters of the town.
On June 25, 1912, Mr. Williams married
Miss Florence Wallace, a native daughter of
Scottsblufif county, who was reared here on
the high prairies, received her educational
advantages in the public schools and here also
met her future husband. Two children have
been born to Mr. and ]\Irs. Williams, Joseph
Wallace and Virginia Lee. attractive young
sters for whom a bright future is in store.
Mr. Williams is an independent in politics, and
though he takes no active part in political af-
fairs is a worthy and representative citizen
who lives up to his own high standards of
Americanism as the worthy scion of an old
southern family should. Fraternally his af-
filiations are with the Masonic order as he
has taken his 32d degree in that order.
HERMAN G. STEWART, who is one of
the capable and progressive representatives of
the farming and stock-raising industries of
the Mitchell valley and Scottsbluff county, is
not one of the earliest settlers in this section
as he located in Sioux county when he first
came to Nebraska, but since coming into the
valley of the Platte has kept pace with the
steady advancement that has marked this fa-
vored section of the state. Mr. Stewart was
liorn in Fond du Lac county, W'isconsin, Sep-
tember 29, 1854, beng a child of Henry and
Ruth (Grant) Stewart, the former a native
of New York and the latter of Ohio. Henrj-
Stewart was descended from a long line of
colonial ancestors who had played an import-
ant part in shaping the growth and develop-
ment of our great country when it was in its
infancy and he himself as soon as he attained
manhood's estatejook an active and interested
part in the councils of the Republican party,
as he was one of the fifty men who organized
it, when the new party began to take shape.
He had a good, practical education in his
youth and upon this excellent foundation he
continued to build by wide reading along both
political and business lines, until he was re-
garded as one of the best informed men of
his day. Mr. Stewart was one of the men who
believed that a great future lay in store for
the great Mississippi valley and early deter-
mined that he should have his part in the
opening up and development of the country.
As railroads were few and the price of trans-
portation high he came west by way of the
great lakes, making the trip from New York
by boat. After arriving in Wisconsin he locat-
ed on a farm in Fond du Lac county, where he
immediately engaged in general farming, and
stock-raising when that state had hardly been
reclaimed from the wilderness, for Wisconsin
was heavily timbered, especially along the
water course, and Fond du Lac county is in
the lake country. There were seven children
in the Stewart family: Martha, the wife of
W. A. Thornton, died at Crawford, Nebras-
ka; Martela, the wife of John Stewart, a dis-
tant relative, is deceased; Celia L.. married
Thomas JeiTerson Cummings, and now lives
at Riverside, California; Henry, lives near
Crawford on a farm; Heman G., A. E., a
farmer in Scottsblufif county, and John F.,
a farmer near Crawford.
Mr. Stewart was reared on his father's farm
in Wisconsin and there received his education-
al advantages in the public schools. While
132
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
still young he left home to start independent-
ly in life and removed to Iowa with his par-
ents in 1867. They located on land in the
western part of the state and later moved
again to Mills county, where the father died.
Mr. Stewart thought he saw an opportunity to
get some good land in Kansas and took up a
homestead in that state on which he proved
up and after making improvements on the
farm was able to dispose of it at what he con-
sidered a good price for those days. He then
came to Nebraska and bought land in the
Loup river valley, in Nance county, but learn-
ing that Indian land could be bought for eight
dollars an acre in Siou.x county, disposed of
his holding near the river to locate in the ex-
treme northwestern part of the state on the
high prairies. He filed on a homestead, on
the pre-emption plan and later homesteaded,
so that he had considerable landed estate. Af-
ter living on this new land for some time Mr.
Stewart made fine improvements of a per-
manent character, had raised the land to an
excellent state of fertility and was well and
favorably known as a farmer who believed in
modern methods in conducting his farm enter-
prise and was one of the first to place his land
under irrigation, for his study of agricultural
subjects had led him to know that on this
western land any profitable crop could be
raised provided there was assured rainfall or
water and today he has five hundred and forty
acres under ditch which is equal to more than
three times that number of acres as far as
making money is concerned if he was not able
to get water, the right amount, and at just the
right time necessary for the growing grains.
Mr. Stewart, like his father has taken an
active part in politics and the esteem in which
he is held by his friends and acquaintances
is shown by the fact that he has twice repre-
sented his district in the state legislature. In-
dependent in his manner of life, early led to
think and do for himself. Mr. Stewart is an
independent in politics, and draws no close
party lines when the question of the best man
for office comes up. In 1876. Mr. Stewart mar-
ried Miss Marie Clites, a native of Illinois and
to this union five children have been born:
Thadius a cattle rancher in Sioux county ;
George F., who lives at Wind Spring on' a
ranch which he owns; Herman C, a farmer
of Sioux county; Mary R., the wife of
Clyde Cross who owns a farm near Mitchell ;
and Mabel E., who married Fred Newell a
Sioux county rancher. The Stewart family
are Christian Scientists.
WILLIAM E. ALVIS. The proprietor
and editor of a newspaper is a man of great
potential power for good or evil in a com-
munity as he occupies a vantage ground from
which he may make or mar a reputation, or
build or tear down a cause worthy of public
support. Not only the city of Morrill but
Scottsbluff county and the western panhandle
has reason for congratulation that the Morrill
Mail is in such capable sagacious hands that
are so thoroughly clean as those of the pres-
ent owner. It is considered one of the best
general news sheets published in the county,
as well as an outspoken, fair play exponent
of the best element of political elements in
this district ; in fact, it is in all respects well
worthy of the thought and sound judgments
displayed in its news items and editorial col-
umns and reflects credit on its joint editor
and publisher, William Alvis, one of the
younger men of the newspaper fraternity, who
are playing an important and able part in
shaping the policies and destinies of Western
Nebraska.
Mr. Alvis is descended from a long line of
colonial ancestors on his father's side as the
family located in the Old Dominion during
the early days of its settlements and various
members of the family have taken a prominent
and active part in the life and politics of their
community from that early date to the pres-
ent time and it is but seeming that a de-
scendent of such an illustrous family should
now be carrying on the torch of progress, as
civilization is westward making its way. Will-
iam Alvis was born in Clark county, Iowa,
April 26, 1891, the son of John W. and Ida M.
( Thompson ) Alvis, the former born in Vir-
ginia, where he was reared and received his
early educational advantages and after attain-
ing his manhood being a youth of ambition
and action he came west, locating in Iowa,
where he engaged in business as a farmer.
The mother was born and reared in the west,
and spent the greater part of her life in
her native state of Iowa, where her three
children William, John W., and Hazel were
born. In 1906. the family removed to
Scottsblufif county, where John Alvis took
up a homestead. As he was already
a practical and successful farmer he soon had
the wild land under cultivation, had erected
the necessary buildings on the farm and a
comfortable home for his wife and children.
Later he was able to dispose of the place at
a handsome profit and returned to Iowa, where
he again engaged in farming, an occupation
PliTER \'0NBURG
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
133
in which he is still engaged, being one of the
well known, prosperous and substantial men
of his community, standing high in the es-
teem of his friends, acquaintances and busi-
ness associates by reason of his integrity, high
moral level and the fact that his word is as
good as his bond. Mr. Alvis is an adherent
of the principles of the Democratic party
while his fraternal associations are with the
Modern Woodmen of America, an organiza-
tion in which he takes a prominent part.
William Alvis received excellent education-
al advantages in the public schools near his
father's farm in Iowa, thus laying the founda-
tion for the higher studies which he has since
pursued both in educational institutions and
by himself as he is a wide reader of the best
English literature, and the many periodicals
of the country as well as the special lines con-
nected with his editorial work. Reared in an
agricultural environment the boy early learned
the practical side of farm life and was a
youthful but expert farmer while still in
school, as he early assumed many of the duties
on the home place that his strength and age
permitted. William was only fifteen years
old when the family came to Scottsbluf? coun-
ty, here he continued to reside at home and
ably assisted in establishing a new farm on
the land his father had taken from the govern-
ment, but as he studied and considered the fu-
ture, the boy did not see himself as a farmer;
his tastes were literary not agricultural, and
wisely following that profession toward which
his mentality led, he entered the realm of
journalism and after thoroughly acquainting
himself with both the editorial and business
departments of a newspaper, Mr. Alvis pur-
chased the Morrill Mail from George Mark.
At the time of the transfer the paper had a
subscription list of only about two hundred
subscribers, but the young manager at once
set out to remedy this defect. He introduced
modern methods, replacing the old Washing-
ton press with a new power driven one, at
once changed the style of the publication, in-
augurating the latest manner of make up and
soon the number of subscribers began to climb
until today he has a circulation extending
throughout Scottsblufif county and is produc-
ing a well printed, well edited sheet, with
clean, live, authentic news, timely editorials
and interesting locals. His efforts to give the
people a good, readable newspaper have evi-
dently been appreciated, and he is well sup-
ported in an advertising way by the merchants
and professional men of Morrill. In connec-
tion with his newspaper, Mr. Alvis has a well
equipped job department, and turns out all
manner of high class job printing.
Mr. Alvis was married to Miss Goldie
Shofstall of Jefferson, Nebraska, July 31,
1912, and to them three children have been
born: Melba L., Elden R., and Kathleen, all
of whom have a bright future in store for
them as their parents are determined to give
them every advantage in a social and educa-
tional way that the state of Nebraska has to
oiifer.
Independent in his life work and business
it is but natural that Mr. Alvis should think
independently along political lines and is an
avowed Independent.
PETER VONBURG, the subject of this
record, has the distinction of being the third
man to file on a homestead in the Morrill dis-
trict for he came to Cheyenne county in 1887
and on the 3rd of April recorded his land entry
for a claim on land where the town of Morrill
now stands. Mr. Vonburg is descended from
a long line of sturdy, thrifty Scandinavian an-
cestors, as his father was a Swede. It was
these hardy Norsemen of the sea countries who
first discovered America and it is to these coun-
tries that the United States is indebted for such
a large element of her best immigrant popula-
tion, as they have been pioneer settlers in many
of the best agricultural sections of the countr\
and it is through their industry, hard work and
foresight that so many broad acres of this land
have been made to yield a bountiful crop where
once were the rolling unproductive prairies, the
"American Desert and Stake Plains" of the
historian of an earlier day. Peter Vonburg is
a native of Illinois, born in Knox county. June
19, 1865, being the son of John and Sarah
Vonburg, both natives of Sweden, where they
were reared, educated and married. The father
was a stone mason, a trade he learned in his
native land and followed there for some years
before emigrating to America. He had heard
of the many opportunities to be obtained in the
United States from some of his returned coun-
trymen and when he perceived that there was
little ahead of him in his native land but hard
work for a bare living, he left the land of his
birth to sail for the new world to there carve
out a career and fortune for himself and his
family. After landing on our shores he came
to Chicago, Illinois, where he at once obtained
employnient at his trade, subsequently remov-
ing to Knoxville, Illinois, to follow the same
vocation. There were eight children in the
family, five of whom are living: Eber. who re-
sides in Illinois ; John, also lives in that state ;
134
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Eli, whose home is in Knoxville : Tilda, the
wife of Charles Bjlgren, who died at W'ilmer,
Minnesota ; and Peter. The father and mother
were both members of the Lutheran church,
while John Vonburg was affiliated with the
Republican party.
The children of the family were sent to the
excellent- public schools which this generous
land aflfords and in Knoxville, Peter received
the academic training and laid the foundation
for the good practical education that has been
of great value to him in his business life. He
remained in Illinois for one year after attain-
ing his majority, but like all the youth of the
land, in the early eighties heard of the many
advantages to be had, as well as adventures, in
the lands lying west of the Missouri, and as the
country was well settled up in Illinois, and land
high in price for that time, he came west in
1887, locating in Nebraska on the townsite of
the present thrifty town of Morrill and little
did he realize that his homestead was to be-
come the location of so progressive a com-
munity within a few decades. Mr. Vonburg
proved up on his claim, put upon it good and
permanent improvements, and engaged in gen-
eral farming and stock-raising. He passed
through the hard and discouraging years of
drought, insect pests and the winter blizzards
that killed his stock, but "stuck it out" and has
had his reward for today he is one of the larg-
est landed proprietors in this section so well
known for its progressive and prosperous agri-
culturists, who have so nobly responded within
the recent years to the demand for increased
productirti. Mr. Vonburg has made a deep
study of farming and its allied industries and
was one of the first men of the valley to advo-
cate irrigation and put into practice intensive
farming methods that have brought him such
gratifying returns for his labor and the study
which he has devoted to his chosen vocation.
Today he owns 680 acres of land and leases
600 more, nearly all of which is under ditch,
and as he believes that high-grade stock brings
the greatest returns, has nothing else on his
farm. He has fine substantial buildings for
the various necessities of his business and a
good convenient modern home. While Mr.
Vonburg has never had the time or inclination
to take an active part in politics, he gives his
support to the Republican party, cooperates
with his fellow citizens in the furtherance of
measures advanced for the general welfare of
the community, and is loyal to all civic duties
and responsibilities. His fraternal affiliations
are with the Masonic order, as he is a thirty-
second degree Mason. Mr. \"onburg stands
head and shoulders above the average farmer
of the west, for he is the representative of
progress and thus is an example for the com-
munity in which he lives for by his very man-
ner of life and the conduct of his business
he has had great influence in introducing mod-
ern methods and equipment into the most
favored agricultural section of Nebraska.
ALFRED J. STEWART. M. D., a man of
distinguished intellectual and professional at-
tainments, high ability and ideals, came to
Nebraska nearly a quarter of a centur)' ago
and it has been given him to wield large
and benignant influence, not only as one of the
early surgeons and physicansof this state but
also as a man of aft'airs and a citizen whose
civic loyalty and exceptional talents have made
him a most influential factor in public afifairs
since locating in the Panhandle and especially
in Mitchell and the county adjacent. Dr.
Stewart was born at ^laquoketa, Iowa, ^larch
22. 1868,
While he was still a small boy the family
moved to a farm near Marion, that state,
so that Alfred was reared in a fine healthy
environment, early learning the value of thrift
and when his strength and age permitted be-
gan to assume many of the duties about the
home place. He was sent to the public school
nearest his home for his elementary education
but as he early decided upon a professional
career entered Cornell college, at Mount Ver-
non. Iowa, to complete the required studies
for entrance at the medical college. The fall
after finishing his college course at Cornell,
Dr. Stewart matriculated at the Hahnemann
Medical college, Chicago. Illinois, took a three
year course in that institution, receiving his de-
gree in 1896. Within a sort time he had chos-
en a location at David City, Nebraska, where
he opened an office and began the active prac-
tice of his profession. Dr. Stewart had some
of the early hard years that every physician
does, but soon won the confidence of the peo-
ple, had a sympathetic and courteous manner
that won him patients and friends so that his
practice grew rapidly and he was soon regard-
ed as one of the leaders of the medical fratern-
ity in David City and the surrounding territory.
Desiring to keep up with the progress made
each year in the medical profession, which
could not be done by reading alone. Dr. Stew-
art entered the graduate department of the
medical school of the University of Illinois
in 1905. where he took a year's course in the
special branches in which he desired to fur-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
135
ther perfect himself, being graduated from
that medical department of the university in
the early summer of 1906. Almost immediate-
ly after returning to Nebraska, he came to
Mitchell, opened an office and has been in con-
tinuous practice here since that time. Within
a short time he had built up an extensive prac-
tice ranging over a large radius of the sur-
rounding country. He devoted himself earn-
estly and unselfishly to the alleviation of suf-
fering under conditions that in the early day
involved arduous work. He gained the af-
fectionate regard of the citizens of Mitchell
and the community which he served and today
has one of the largest practices in the county.
In 1895 Dr. Stewart married Miss Katie
Woodward, who died in 1901, leaving one
daughter, Carol, who now is the wife of Paul
Pattorf, of South Dakota. In 1906 the Doc-
tor was married again to Miss Harriet Platte,
a charming and gracious woman who is the
chatelaine of the hospitable home maintained
by the doctor, where the latch string ever
hangs out for their many warm friends.
Since coming to Mitchell, the doctor has
taken an active and interested part in all pub-
lic affairs though he has never aspired or had
time to hold public office, as all his time and
energy is demanded by the duties of his pro-
fession, but he is one of the fine citizens who
is ever ready to help in promoting any move-
ment for the development or benefit of the
county and the city of Mitchell, giving freely
of time and money in all good and laudable
movements. In political belief he is a liberal
Republican, believing that the best man should
be elected to local office, the one best fitted to
serve the people well. Prominent in ^Masonic
circles. Dr. Stewart has taken all the degrees
up to the Shrine and is one of the prominent
Shriners of the northwestern part of Nebras-
ka. He is a member of the Scottsbluff County
Medical Association, the Nebraska State Med-
ical Association and the American Medical
Association.
GEORGE E. MARK, one of the self made
men of the Panhandle who today is the owner
of one of the journals of the northwestern
section of Nebraska, which has had a large
part in the moulding of public opinion in this
section is the owner and editor of the Mitchell
Index, one of the cleanest, most fearless and
progressive newspapers of the state.
^Ir. Mark was born in Chautauqua county.
New York, March 14, 1866, the son of David
and Delilah H. (Durfee) Mark, both natives of
the Empire state, so that Mr. Mark is descend-
ed from a long line of colonial ancestors who
took an important part in the development of
the New England states. His ancestors on
both his father's and his mother's sides were
colonial residents and the male members of the
families were all soldiers of the Revolution.
With his parents he came to Nebraska in 1872,
his father taking up a homestead in Thayer
county, on which he proved up. developed it,
and which he sold a short time before moving
to Gering, in Scottsbluiif county, in 1899.
David Mark spent a useful and constructive
life which closed in November. 1900. He is
survived by his widow who now makes her
home with her son. George was reared on
his father's farm, early beginning to help
around the home place in the summer vacations
while during the winter terms he attended the
district school nearest his home. Subsequent-
ly he entered the Hebron high school, from
which he graduated. While still a youth of
only eighteen years he began his independent
financial career as a teacher in the country
schools. He saved some money from his sal-
ary and as he had already learned that the
best equipment a man can have for his life
work is a good education determined to take
a higher course, and with this in view matricu-
lated at Fairfield college, where he took special
courses along the lines which most interested
him. In the fall of 1893. still following his
chosen profession of teaching, he moved to
Gering in Scottsbluff county, having accepted
the position of principaf of the city schools.
At the same time he determined to take ad-
vantage of the fine opportunity to secure a
good farm, so filed a homestead near Gering,
on which he proved up. In 1896, Mr. Mark
purchased the A\'braska Homestead, which
had been published for some time at Gering,
as he had a natural aptitude for journalism
and the work was congenial to him, more so
than the teaching profession, and at the same
time it gave him opportunity to bring to the
attention of the people many things to their
advantage. Mr. ^lark acted as publisher and
editor, which under his able management de-
veloped into one of the strong and influential
journals. In April, 1901, Mr. Mark moved
his printing plant to Mitchell and started the
Index, as he saw there was a good opening
here for a live, up-to-date paper and his wis-
dom in this move has been justified, for he
now has a large subscription list which ex-
tends all over Scottsbluiif county. In addition
he has built up a large and profitable job print-
136
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
ing business. He conducts one of the clean-
est, most independent and out-spoken sheets
in the Panhandle, with well written editorials
upon timely and interesting subjects, many
good locals and the latest telegraph news. Dur-
ing the war he was able to give the subscribers
exceptionally good service with reference to
the movements in Europe which they appre-
ciated, especially after the United States en-
tered the conflict.
On Spetember 1, 1902, Mr. Mark was mar-
ried at Bayard, Nebraska, to Miss Maggie L.
Wells, a native of Missouri, where she was
reared and educated. Three children have
been born to them: Eldridge D., Margaret
and George E., Jr. In politics Mr. Mark is
an adherent of the Democratic principles, but
is not bound in local affairs by strict party
lines, as he advocates the best man for office
when it comes to serving the people. He is a
member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellov/s and with his wife is a member of the
Christian church.
WILLIAM MARLIN, who may be termed
one of the pioneers of ScottsblufT, as he built
one of the first houses in the place, has been a
farmer almost all his life, and a resident of
Nebraska for forty-three years. He has wit-
nessed great changes in that time and has done
his part in agricultural development.
William Marlin was born in Franklin coun-
ty, Indiana, February 19, 1852. His parents
were Charles and Mar>' (Ralf) Marlin, the
former of whom was born in New Jersey and
the latter in New York. The father was a
farmer in Indiana and died there at the age
of seventy-two years. The mother came to
Nebraska and died in Frontier county at the
age of seventy years. Their family consisted
of three daughters and five sons, William be-
ing the second born.
In the country schools near his father's
farm in Indiana, William Marlin obtained his
schooling. He grew up on the home farm
and remained in Indiana until he was twenty-
four years of age, then came to Nebraska, set-
tling first near Red Cloud, in Webster county.
Two years later, however, he moved to a safer
section, in Frontier county and homesteaded
there. For twenty-two years Mr. Marlin re-
sided on his homestead, developing and im-
proving it, and then moved to Scottsbluff, in-
duced to some extent to come into town in order
to give his children better educational advan-
tages. As one of the early settlers here, he
has been concerned in many ways with the
town's progress. He owns his own comfort-
able residence here and also has one hundred
and sixty acres of irrigated land.
Mr. Marlin was married December 24, 1875,
to Miss Amanda Ray, who was born in De-
catur county, Indiana, and the following chil-
dren have been born to them : John, a farmer
living near Scottsbluff ; Dore R., lives on a
farm near Scottsbluff; Jesse H., also a farmer
near Scottsbluff"; Clifford, lives at Scottsbluff';
Otis, who has seen six years service in the
United States Marine corps, is a captain in
rank and is now :tationed in the Danish West
Indies; Benjamin H.. lives in Scottsbluff coun-
ty; Cora, resides at home; Mrs. Lenora Ash-
bough, lives in the county; William, a farmer;
and Viola, lives with her parents. Mrs. Mar-
lin is a member of the Presbyterian church.
In politics Mr. Marlin is a Republican but has
never sought public office.
I. W^ NEWSUM is a native of North Caro-
lina, born January 31, 1852. the son of Gillin
and Amanda (Spease) Newsum. Both his par-
ents were natives of North Carolina, and to
them thirteen children were born, eight of
whom are now living.
After finishing his schooling in his native
state, Mr. Newsum engaged in farming. Com-
ing to western Nebraska in 1886, he took a
homestead south of the present town of Mc-
Grew and lived through the experiences that
were common to all the early settlers of those
days. He farmed and raised stock, and after
a successful term of years in that enterprise he
has taken advantage of a well earned rest and
disposed of his ranch, now owning only ten
acres of land on which is located a comfort-
able home.
October 6, 1889, he was married to Mrs.
Mary Minces, whose maiden name was Mary
Lee, and who had formerly been married to
Isaac L. Minces and had two children, Leon-
ard, who now resides at Bayard ; and Harry,
who was killed by lightning in 1906.
Mr. Newsum is a Republican in politics and
a member of the United Brethren church. He
recalls many experiences of the pioneer days
before the Black Hills line of the Burlington
Railroad was built, when he had to haul his
grain to Sidney or Alliance. In those times
people were few and money was scarce, but
he. like the others who stayed with it, has
lived to see the time when population and
wealth have multiplied many times over and
the community that was once a sparsely set-
tled range country is now one of the richest
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
agricultural sections of the United States
with prosperous and growing cities and towns
every few miles.
Mr Newsum stands high in his circle of
aquaintances as a man who has been upright
and enterprising. He has made a success of his
life and has retired to enjoy the fruits of his
labors, enjoying the friendship and respect of
all who know him.
JAMES R. RUSSELL, a pioneer of Scotts-
bkiff county and one of the energetic and pro-
gressive citizens of the Mitchell valley, is a rep-
resentative (if the spirit that in recent years has
proved such an inip.irtant factor in the ad-
vancement of the Tanhandle. He is the owner
of a valuable and productive farm located in
section 35, township 23-57, and he has also
been identified with the business interests of the
valley from first locating here and his career
has been marked by a versatility that has done
much to make him one of the substantial and
influential men of this locality, well known for
its able agriculturists and progressive, success-
ful business men.
James R. Russell is a native of the Badger
state, born in X'ernon county, \\'isconsin, in
1868, the son of Calvin Russell, who was born
and reared in Ohio. Mr. Russell grew to man-
hood on the farm owned by his parents in Wis-
consin and acquired his education in the public
schools. In 1888, a mere boy in years, he broke
all the home ties and with high heart and the
determination to success started for the west to
seek and make his fortune. Coming to Ne-
braska in 1888 he soon looked the different
localities over, became an embryonic farmer
and pioneer of the Panhandle. He took a
homestead of 160 acres. Twelve years later the
young man married and from then on for sev-
eral years he and his devoted wife encountered
many hardships and weathered many storms,
but they did not falter in courage, made the
best of the circumstances and privations, with-
out complaints, and manifested the faith that
has been graciously rewarded in the later years.
Industrious by nature, Mr. Russell in the early
days obtained work wherever he could get it to
tide over the hard years when crops were de-
stroyed by grasshoppers or burned up by the
droughts, and by means of such employment
provided his family with the necessities of life
and was able to retain his land and gradually
carry forward the added improvements which
he deemed necessary to become a successful
farmer. He went 200 miles away to find work
and assisted in building the railroad west of
Alliance. This land, located in township 23-57,
section 35, has been his home continuously dur-
ing the long intervening period. He has added
to the original tract and is the owner of 400
acres, all now in a high state of cultivation, is
well equipped for intensive farming and ex-
tensive stock-raising, with substantial buildings
that have taken the place of the first placed
there. Mr. Russell has been a deep student of
agricultural methods and naturally was one of
the first men of the valle>- to realize and advo-
cate the value of irrigation. He has one hun-
dred and twenty acres of his land under water
and it is mostly a question of time before many
more acres will be under ditch. Mr. Russell
rai.ses a good grade of stock on his farm and
finds that branch of farming very profitable.
He tells of the makeshifts the early settlers
were forced to employ when they could not
obtain necessary farm machinery and family
supplies and laughs as he describes how the
first postoffice of Mitchell, a frame structure
eight by twelve feet square, was put up over
.night in the stress of necessity and that he be-
came the first postmaster, cancelling thirt\' dol-
lars worth of stamps the first month. Branch-
ing out into a pioneer merchant, Mr. Russell
became owner of the second store in Mitchell
where he handled everything needed by the
farmers of the valley.
While Mr. Russell is an advocate of the
principles of the Republican party, he is bound
by no strict party lines when it comes to casting
his vote in local elections and gives his influence
to the man he deems best qualified to serve the
community or county. He is a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fra-
ternal Union, and the M. W. A., while the
family are members of the Congregational
church. In 1900 was celebrated the marriage
of Mr. Russell and Miss Lena Ewing, a native
of Pennsylvania, who accompanied her parents
to Nebraska when her father settled in this
state in 1887. Thomas Ewing is now deceased,
after having been a potent factor in the devel-
opment of the region, being a representative
pioneer settler who shouldered his part in open-
ing up the middle west for settlement and de-
velopment. There are seven cliilclrcn in the
Russell f.nnilv: Eva, Lester, TIkmu.-i^. J.inu's,
John. Clem, and Amy, all of whom are at hdme
and to whom their father and mother have
given all the educational advantages that their
children cared to avail themselves of.
From first settling in the Panhandle, Mr.
Russell has been progressive in spirit and is the
advocate for all movements that tend to the
betterment of the county and community in
which he lives. Both he and his wife take an
active part in their church affairs and they are
numbered among the sterling and honored pio-
neer citizens of Scottsbluff countv.
138
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
PEARL M. STONE, educator and agri-
culturist, furnishes in his career another ex-
emplification of self-made manhood. He is
one of the most prominent and prosperous
exponents of farm enterprise in the Mitchell
section of Scottsblutf county, is a Hberal and
progressive citizen who well merits recogni-
tion in this publication. 'Mr. Stone clanns the
great Sunflower state, to the south, as the
place of his nativity and is a scion of one
of the sterling pioneer families of that great
commonwealth. He was bom in Smith coun-
ty, September 28, 1876, the son of W. E. and
Madord (Dufhe) Stone, the former a native
of Illinois and the latter a descendant of a
long line of New England ancestors, having
been boni in Vermont. The father was one
of the successful farmers who settled in Kan-
sas during territorial days when that was le-
garded as a "Land of Promise," and such it
proved to be for him. There were three chil-
dren in the family, two of whom are living:
Pearl and Edna, the wife of Thomas May-
cock, who resides in Gilette, Wyoming.
His father being a man of comfortable
means Pearl was given all the educational
advantages that this section of the country
afforded as his parents removed from Kansas
to Scottsbluff county in 1890; the father be-
ing instrumental in the great enterprise of
securing the irrigation ditch which has made
this county "bloom like the rose." The boy
attended the public schools at Gering and Lin-
coln, graduating from the Western Normal
school in the latter city. The following
seven years Mr. Stone devoted to his profes-
sion as teacher and the success he gained in
this field may be understood when we learn
that he was then elected county superintendent,
an office most creditably filled by him for two
years. A highly educated man, he kept abreast
of all the questions of the day and being
of far vision saw that the free, independent
man of today is the one who owns land ; this
man being his own master. The wide world
must be fed and the farmers of this great
country are carrying on the greatest agricul-
tural business ever witnessed in history. Mr.
Stone had opportunity to observe the more
than satisfactory results achieved by the
farmers on irrigated land and having been
reared on a farm in childhood was well quali-
fied to take up this pursuit for life. During
his scholastic years he had accumulated con-
siderable capital and with this was able to
purchase a large tract of irrigated land, con-
sisting of three hundred and twenty acres in
^Mitchell township. Air. Stone has been re-
markably successful in his farming which is
diversified, though he carries on a large stock-
raising and feeding business. Mr. Stone
keeps cognizant of all questions of the day
and improved methods of farming and thus
has come to be recognized as one of the lead-
ing exponents of this .industry in his section
of the country. He has demonstrated that
a cultivated mind and fine instincts reach their
highest development often-times amid rural
surrounding, diffusing around them that re-
finement and peace which are the hall marks
of the cultured. Mr. Stone has for years
been a supporter of the Republican party ; is
an advocate of every movement for the im-
provement of his community; he and his wife
are members of the Christian church while
his fraternal affiliations are with the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1910 he
married Miss Minnie Whittaker, native of
Kansas, who became the mother of five chil-
dren: Ellen, Maxine, Perl Hazen, Dorothy
and Bernice, all of whom are at home attend-
ing school and all assured an excellent educa-
tion because of their father's superior men-
tal attainments.
LAWRENCE A. FRICKE. — The success-
ful men in Western Nebraska today, are by
no means all of the older generation. Start-
ing out to carve a career for himself, a young
man undoubtedly is helped if his educational
training has been thorough, but not education
alone explains personal popularity, political
prominence and keen business foresight. Pos-
sessing these qualities, Lawrence A. Fricke
has become a leading representative citizen of
Bayard while still almost at the beginning of
his career as a dealer in real estate.
Lawrence A. Fricke was born at Madison,
Nebraska, January 8, 1889, and is a son of
Herman and Johanna (Ruegge) Fricke, both
of whom were born in Germany. They came
to the United States as young people and were
married in Illinois. In 1865 they came to
Richardson, Nebraska, where he bought land
and traded a horse for additional land. He
followed farming in that section for some
time, then moved to Omaha and went into the
agricultural improved implement business and
still resides in that city, being now retired.
Ten of his eleven children survive, Lawrence
A. being the youngest of the family. In poli-
tics the father is a Republican and both he
and the mother are members of the German
Lutheran church.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
139
After completing the high school course at
Omaha, Lawrence A. Fricke spent one year
in the Nebraska State University and then
entered on railroad work in the engineering
department of the Burlington system. In
1914 he embarked in the real estate business
at Bayard, in partnership with his brother-in-
law, Peter O'Shea, of Scottsbluft. The firm
handles both farm and city property and
through choice locations and honest business
representations, has built up a prosperous
business.
Mr. Fricke was married in February, 1917,
to Miss Eleanor Parks, who was born at
Greeley, Nebraska, and they have two chil-
dren, namely: Robert L., who was born in
January, 1918; and; Johanna Ruth, who was
born January 16, 1919. Mr. Fricke was bap-
tized in the German Lutheran church. He is
a leading Republican of Morrill county, has
served Bayard in the office of mayor with the
greatest efficiency and is a city councilman at
the present time. He is a Consistory Mason
of advanced degree. Personally, with genial
manner that shows sincerity, Mr. Fricke im-
presses one favorably and he has a wide cir-
cle of friends.
IRA BIGELOW, who has been a resident
of Nebraska almost his entire life, owns and
operates a fine farm in ]\Iorrill county, upon
which he has placed substantial improvements.
Mr. Bigelow has been prominent in the Tri-
State Ditch project, and served three years
as treasurer of this enterprise. He was born
in Wisconsin, May 27, 1868, and is a son of
Reuben and Saphronia Bigelow.
When Ira Bigelow was three years old, his
parents left Wisconsin, moved to Iowa, set-
tled there on a farm and remained until 1879.
Another change was made and i\Ir. Bigelow
remembers the journey from Iowa to the
new home in Holt county, Nebraska, where
his father homesteaded. He attended school
there and later went to Omaha and came to
Morrill county in 1910. Here he purchased
eighty acres of wild land and immediately
set about its development and improvement.
He now has a valuable farm and is in a posi-
tion to feel well satisfied with conditions of
all kinds as they are in Nebraska.
In 1895, near Kearney, Nebraska, Mr. Bige-
low was married to Miss Esta Ford, who was
liorn and reared in Iowa. Her parents, Samuel
W. and Angelina Ford, came from Iowa in
1887 to Kearney, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs.
Bigelow have had children as follows: Mrs.
Zana Warren, lives at Redington, Nebraska;
Mrs. Pearl H,arms, lives near Bayard; Vera,
lives at home; Ray died at the age of three
years ; and Hazel, lives with her parents. Mr.
Bigelow is not identified with any particular
political party but is a wide awake citizen and
casts an {dependent vote for the candidates of
whom his own good judgment approves. He
takes a deep interest in the public schools and
has served in the school board for fifteen
years.
HENRY MILLER, whose valuable irri-
gated farm in Morrill county, Nebraska, lies
on section fifteen, town of Bayard, has been
a resident of Nebraska for thirty-eight years
and during that long period has witnessed
many wonderful changes. He has been a
farmer all his life and has developed a fine
property on which he lives.
Henry Miller was born in Alsace Lorraine,
then a province of Germany, March 10,
1860. His parents were farming people named
Peter and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Miller, who
emigrated from Germany to Canada, in 1866.
The change of climate and manner of living
did not agree with them and both died short-
ly after reaching their new home. Henry was
young at the time. He remained in Canada,
where he obtained a fair amount of schooling
and learned to be a farmer, until 1881, when
he came to Nebraska and settled in the east-
ern part of the state. He followed faxming
there until 1909 and then came to Morrill
county and bought two hundred and forty
acres of wild land. With accustomed industry
he began the development of his land and
soon had a crop started but a drouth ruined
it. and in the season of the following j'ear, a
liailstorm caused great damage to his growing
crop. Since that time, however, Mr. Miller
has been continuously successful, and with
his large farm all irrigated may well be con-
sidered one of the county's substantial agri-
culturists. He has excellent improvements,
keeps standard stock, owns modern machinery
and his entire place gives the pleasing impres-
sion of a profitable, well regulated farm.
Mr. Miller was married to Miss Alvina Go-
ing, who was born in Germany, March 23,
1861. Her parents came to the United States
from Germany in 1867 and settled in the
eastern part of Nebraska, where the father
carried on farming until his death. The moth-
er of Mrs. Miller still lives on the old home
farm and is now in her eightieth year. Mr.
and Mrs. Miller have had eight children:
140
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Henry and Willie, twins, both of whom live
in eastern Nebraska; Louis, lives in Wyom-
ing; Martha, the wife of L. J. Tilden, of Mor-
rill county; Alvena, the wife of E. J. Tilden,
of Wyoming; and Walter, Esther and Paul,
all of whom are at home. The family is of
the Lutheran faith. Mr. Miller is independent
in his political views. His neighbors know
him to be an honest, dependable man.
MARTIN J. KING. — In these days, to
the ordinary individual, the ownership of vast
tracts of land and thousands of cattle repre-
sents wealth almost inconceivable, yet there
are men in Morrill county who go quietly
about the ordinary affairs of life without os-
tentation, who can claim such possessions. A
sale of 2,300 acres of land recently recorded
by Martin J. King, one of the county's well
known cattlemen, brings this to miind, al-
though it is but an incident that may be re-
peated, for Western Nebraska men are apt
to think and act in large figures. Mr. King
has spent almost all his life in Nebraska but
his birth took place September 12, 1878, at
Cresion, Iowa.
The parents of Mr. King were Valentine
and Barbara (Hutchinson) King, natives of
Ireland and truly worthy people there and
later in the United States. They located first
in Maryland but after the ways of the new
country had become familiar, removed
to Iowa and lived there as farmers until 1887,
when they came to Cheyenne county, Nebras-
ka. The father homesteaded and turned his
attention to growing cattle, in the course of
years becoming one of the big cattlemen of
this section, at one time having 6,000 head.
He was a good business man, attended closely
to his own atifairs, voted the Democratic
ticket and brought up a large family in the
Roman Catholic church. He died at Alliance,
Nebraska, the mother of Mr. King passing
away in the city of Omaha. Of their children
Martin J. was the fifth in order of birth, the
others being: William, lives at Alliance, is in
the stock business ; Patrick, a farmer near
Blackfoot, Iowa; John, a farmer in Morrill
county ; Annie, resides at Alliance ; Maggie,
the wife of L. Jacobs, a farmer near Angora;
Nellie, the wife of James Murphy, a ranchman
near Alliance ; and Thomas, lives on the old
King homestead, and with one of his brothers
owns no less that 14,000 acres of land in Mor-
rill county and runs about 1.000 head of cattle.
John King keeps 300 head of cattle, included
in these being 150 pure-bred Herefords.
Martin J. King was nine years old when
t'ne family located near Alliance, Nebraska,
and he remembers going to school in a little
tent, for schooling was one of the first privi-
leges the most of the early settlers endeavored
to secure for their children, second only to
religious instruction. Later he had public
school advantages. After his school days and
until 1915 when he moved into Alliance, Mr.
King engaged in ranching and became one of
the county's well known cattlemen. He has a
fine farm of 320 acres but has retired entirely
from active farm and ranch life. For several
years he carried on an automobile business at
Alliance and then came to Bayard and bought
the Bayard Hotel, and now occupies his time
in managing this place of business.
In 1907 Mr. King was united in marriage
to Miss Elizabeth L. Shetler, who was born
near Kearney, Nebraska, and is a daughter
of Lesley L. Shelter, who came to Cheyenne
county in 1887 and now lives retired at Den-
ver. Mr. and Mrs. King have three children :
Lavern L., Catherine Barbara and Martin
Carroll, the youngest being at the engaging
age of three years while the older children
are doing well at school. Mr. King and his
family belong to the Catholic church. Mr.
King follows his father's example in political
membership but has never been willing to ac-
cept a public office. He belongs to the lodge
of Elks at Alliance.
CHRISTIAN NUSZ, who owns a welt im-
proved farm situated on section 12 town of
Bayard, Morril county. Nebraska, has not liv-
ed in the United States so verj' many years
and still fewer in Nebraska, but he has dem-
onstrated what a man of energy and enter-
prise can accomplish when given free oppor-
tunity. Mr. Nusz was born in Russia, in
1869, a son of Christian and Mary (Hass)
Nusz. Both parents were of Russian birth.
The father died on his farm in Russia and
the son hopes that his beloved mother still
lives there. The unsettled condition of his
native land has made it impossible for Mr.
Nusz to communicate with the old neighbors
and eight years have passed since he had re-
liable news.
In 1908 Mr. Nusz came to the United States
and made his way to Kansas. There he work-
ed as a laborer until 1914, when he came to
Morrill county and invested his savings in
one hundred and sixty acres of land. He
has not spared himself in developing this land
and has improved it very well. Almost all' of
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
141
his farm is now irrigated and his crops are
abundant. Knowing the hard conditions of
life for men with little chance to get ahead
as they were when he left Russia, he feels
that he has been fortunate in coming to Ne-
braska. He has found friends here, has ac-
quired a beautiful home and assured comfort
for old age and has been able to give his chil-
dren the educational opportunities he has de-
sired.
Mr. Nusz was married to Miss Latie Deins,
who was born in Russia. Her parents were
Jacob and Ella (Fogal) Deins. who never
came to the United States. Mr. and Mrs.
Nusz have had children as follows : Christian,
a farmer in Colorado; Alexander, works on
a farm in Colorado ; and Jacob, David, Lydia,
Victor, Mary and Carl, all of whom are at
home. The family belongs to the Russian
church. Mr. Nusz in an .American citizen
Init has never identified himself with any par-
ticular political party. In his neighborhood
he is known to be a man of his word and is
highly respected.
ARTHUR J. BAILEY was one of the pio-
neer cattlemen of western Nebraska who
played an important part in the early develop-
ment of this section during that period when
the great cattle barons ranged their cattle from
the Pecos on the south to the Yellowstone on
the north, and was well and most favorably
known throughout the Panhandle.
Arthur Bailey was born in Iowa, July 3,
1869, the son of J. P. and Julia (Birdsall)
Bailey, who were farming people and who
came to Colorado where he became the owner
of land upon which the city of Fort Collins
has since been built. The son grew up on his
father's farm in Iowa and attended the public
schools near his home. During the heigh-day
of the cattle business on the high plains it had
a lure for the young man of the period and
many of them joined the great cow outfits that
drifted from Texas to Wyoming with the
changing seasons; as the pasture became used
and burned up in the south the herds slowly
drifted northward and were finally sold on the
northern market at the close of the season.
Mr. Bailey joined such a camp and by prac-
tical experience learned the live-stock industry
as conducted at the time. After serving his
apprenticeship as a cowboy his ability soon
became recognized and he was offered the posi-
tion of foreman of the Standard Cattle Com-
pany at Ames, Nebraska, where he soon dem-
onstrated his ability. He proved so efficient
that subseciuently he was given charge of the
vast business of the concern at North Platte
and later at Scottsbluff and thus learned at
first hand the country of the western Pan-
handle and its future possibilities. His reputa-
tion as a manager became well known through-
out the cattle country and the Paxton people
of the Hershey Ranch made him such an ad-
vantageous ofifer that he accepted a position
with them. Mr. Bailey kept abreast of the
movement of the times, studied the markets and
watched the increased settlement of the west-
ern part of the states bordering the great
"cattle trail," and was one of the first to recog-
nize the signs that pointed to the fact that the
day of the open range was over and the future
of the meat inrlustry was to change from the
great companies td tlie farmer who would raise
and feed a hit^h breil beef stock. As he had
been raised on a farm he decided to avail him-
self of the fmc -iiveninieiit 1,-nid still to be ob-
tai.K-.l m \hv rich 1 Matte valley and in 1906
jHirchased 240 acre^ m township J3-57, section
35. Scottsbluff county, where he at once estab-
lished himself as a farmer raising diversified
crops and engaged in stock-raising. Water had
been the paramount question of the cattlemen
for \car> ;uid having given considerable study
to obtaining it while on the range, when he
the river and liecanie one of tlie first a<l\ocates
of irrigtition. Three hundred acres of his
estate were under water rights and much of
the rest was rich pasture, a combination that
worked out well for the various lines of busi-
ness which he carried on. Mr. Bailey was a
strong man and from first settling in the
Mitchell district, by reason of his force of char-
acter, was enabled to inaugurate many im-
proveiuents and thus becoine a potent factor in
the afl^airs of the locality and the lives of its
citizens. He stood for progress and reform,
served for many years as a school director, and
stood behind all movements for the benefit and
development of his district. In politics Mr.
Bailey was a supporter of the principles of the
Republican party and he and his wife were
members of the Presbyterian church, of which
they were liberal supporters. Fr.iternally his
associations were with the Masonic order, the
Elks, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
His death occurred at the farm home, May 12,
1916.
On April 18, 1898, Mr. Bailey married Miss
Elizabeth Harvey at Webster, Nebraska. She
was the daughter of Andrew and Margaret
(Richie) Harvey, both natives of Scotland,
who came to America many years ago and are
now well known residents of Dodge county,
where Mr. Harvey has been a .successful farm-
er. Eight children became members of the
142
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Bailey family: Idell, the wife of Lemuel Smith,
who resides on the old home place : Lillian, who
holds a business position in Fremont, Nebraska,
being associated with the Hammond Printing
Co. ; Ruth and Julia, who are seniors in high
school ; Edna, Arthur J.. Beryl, and Grace, who
also are all taking courses in the public school.
Mrs. Bailey resided on the farm till 1919 when
she moved to Mitchell to give her children
better school advantages.
GILBERT ROSS, who has been a resident
of Nebraska since 1909 and who is the owner
of an excellent ranch property in Morrill coun-
ty, is essentially to be noted as one of the
world's productive workers, for his advance-
ment has been gained entirely through his
own ability and well ordered efforts. In the
thriving village of Bayard, ^lorrill county, he
conducts a substantial teaming business, the
while his family resides on the homestead
which is eleven miles northwest of the town.
Mr. Ross was born in Westmoreland coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of April, 1864,
and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Knox)
Ross, both of whom passed their entire lives
in the old Keystone state, the former having
been a school teacher within the period of his
early manhood. Gilbert Ross was still a child
at the time of his father's death and there-
after he lived in the home of his paternal
grandfather until the death of the latter. At
this juncture in his career Mr. Ross, who was
at the time a lad of but eight years, was taken
into the care of strangers and he continued
to work for his board and clothes until he had
attained the age of fourteen years. He then
received eight dollars a month for his serv-
ices in hauling lumber with a four-horse
team, and he continued to be identified with
work of this order until he was twenty-five
years old. He then obtained employment as
locomotive fireman on the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, and within the four years of his service
in this capacity he served as fireman on both
freight and passenger trains. It can well be
understood that his early educational training
was limited to a somewhat irregular attend-
ance in the public schools of his native state,
but he made good use of the advantages
afforded in the stern school of practical labor
and experience.
After retiring from railroad work Mr. Ross
was engaged in teaming in Pennsylvania un-
til 1909, when he came with his family to Ne-
braska and located on a homestead eleven
miles northwest of Bayard, to the general im-
provement and supervision of which he has
since given his attention, though he devotes
the major part of his time to his prosperous
teaming business at Bayard. His ranch com-
prises six hundred acres and is utilized prin-
cipally for the raising of cattle and horses,
the land being excellent for grazing and his
average herd of cattle comprising about one
hundred head. Mr. Ross is vigorous and am-
bitious and is the type of citizen that is most
fully valued in this progressive section of Ne-
braska. He is a Republican in politics, is af-
filiated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles
and he and his wife hold membership in the
Brethren church.
Mrs. Blanche (ShafTer) Rose, wife of him
whose name initiates this review, is likewise
a native of Pennsylvania, as were her parents,
Frank and Mary'(Carus) Shaffer. Air. and
Airs. Ross have three children : \\'illiam E.
and A. C., both of whom are engaged in farm-
ing in Morrill county ; and Blanche lone, who
remains at the parental home.
REV. THOMAS C. OSBORNE has been
a resident of Western Nebraska since his boy-
hood days, is a representative of one of the
honored pioneer families of this section of the
state and individually he has done well his
part in the furtherance of civic and material
progress. He has given most eft'ective service
in the ministry of the Presbyterian church and
is known as a man of distinctive culture and
broad and well fortified convictions. Since
his retirement from active ministerial labors
he has given his attenton principally to the su-
pervision of his valuable landed interests in
Morrill county, (where he is also proprietor of
the Fanners Exchange, a progressive weekly
paper, of which he is editor and publisher, at
Bayard.)
Mr. Osborne was born in McLean county,
Illinois, on the 9th of September, 1876, and
is a son of Samuel H. and Emily (Benson)
Osborne. Samuel Osborne was born in Steu-
ben county, Ohio, and was a child at
the time of the family removal to In-
diana, where he was reared on the home
farm and received his education in the
common schools of the period. When
the dark cloud of the Civil War cast its pall
over the national horizon he loyally went
forth in defense of the Union. He enlisted
as a private in the Eighty-eighth Regiment of
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was as-
signed to the Army of the Cumberland and
with which he served until the close of the
war. He lived up to the full tension of the
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
143
^'reat conflict and his military record is vir-
tually coincident with that of the gallant regi-
ment of which he was a member and with
which he participated in many important en-
gagements, including the battles of Chica-
mauga and Stone's River. After the war this
valiant young veteran passed some time in
Iowa and at Kearney, Nebraska, and about
1870 he returned to Illinois and engaged in
farm enterprise. Later he conducted a gen-
eral merchandise store at Colfax, that state,
where also he served as postmaster. In 1887
Samuel Osborne came with his family to what
is now Morrill county. Nebraska, where he
entered claim to a pioneer homestead two and
one-half miles northeast of B.ayard. He duly
perfected his title to this claim and then, in
1890. entered a pre-emption claim three miles
southeast of Bayard. He developed and im-
proved this property, upon which he continued
to maintain his home until his death, his name
being held in gracious memory as that of one
of the sterling pioneers of the county. He
was a man of much prevision and progressive-
ness, was a loyal and liberal citizen and did
much to forward the advancement of this part
of Nebraska. In earlier years he was a Re-
publican in politics, but he was actively aligned
with the populist party during the period of
its maximum influence in national and state
aft'airs. He served for a long period in the
ofUce of justice of the peace and was other-
wise accorded marks of popular confidence
and esteem. Both he and his wife, whose
death occurred in 1917, were members of the
Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Osborne
was born in McLean county, Illinois, and was
one of the revered pioneer women in Morrill
county, Nebraska. Of the four children,
Thomas C, of this review, was the second in
order of birth. Dale B.. the eldest, now re-
sides upon the old home place of his parents ;
Eva June died at the age of twenty-seven
years; and Dean H.. who was for eighteen
months in the government aviation service in
connection with the world war. has been re-
siding at Bayard since his discharge, after the
close of the war.
Thomas C. Osborne acquired his prelimin-
ary education in the public schools of his na-
tive state and was a lad of eleven years at the
time of the family removal to Nebraska. Af-
ted completing the curriculum of the high
school at Crawford. Dawes county, he entered
the Nebraska Presbyterian college, at Hast-
ing?, in which institution he was graduated
in 1901. with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
Thereafter he completed a three years' course
in the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at
Omaha, from which he was graduated on the
1st of May, 1904. During the autumn of that
year he had charge of the church at Wayne,
judicial center of the county of the same name,
and there his ordination occurred. He retain-
ed this pastoral charge until the spring of
1910, and from March 1st of that year until
March 1. 1918, he was pastor of the Presby-
terian church in the city of Scottbluff.
Through his able and earnest labors the church
was greatly advanced in spiritual and material
well being and he gained recognition as one
of the leading clergymen of his denomination
in this part of the state. His retirement was
forced through a throat disorder and general-
ly impaired health, and under these conditions
he established his residence on the homestead
which he had obtained in 1902. the same being
situated four miles northeast of Bayard. He
has made excellent improvements on this place,
which comprises one hundred and sixty acres,
irrigated from the farmers' ditch and two
miles east of Bayard he has a tract of eighty
acres, with similar irrigation facilities. His
land is effectively given over to the propagation
of grain, alfalfa and sugar beets, and his
health has been recuperated through his out-
door life in the supervision of his farms. Mr.
Osborne takes lively interest in all things per-
taining to the moral, social and industrial ad-
vancement of his home community and state.
He was a member of the Nebraska Constitu-
tional convention of 1919-20. He and the
members of the family are zealous workers in
the Presbyterian church, the while he main-
tains an independent attitude in politics.
, In the year. 1903, was solemnized the mar-
rage of Mr. Osborne to Miss Julia M. Jones,
a college classmate of his at Hastings, and of
this union have been born five children : Emily
L., Charles C, Clifford W. and Howard B.
remain at the parental home, and Roger C.
died in infancy.
LEON A iMOOMAW, Cotner Uni. A.B.
A.M. — Although entitled to place after his
name letters indicating hard won college de-
grees, it may be possible that Professor Leon
A. Moomaw, of Morrill county, takes equal
pride in the success that has attended his ag-
ricultural undertakings. Born and reared on
a farm, the memorj' of Nature's ever recur-
ring miracle of seasons and plenteousness re-
warding honest toil, may have accompanied
him through university life and subsequent
144
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
intellectual effort in the educational field, for
the time came when college honors were laid
aside and the learned teacher became an en-
thusiastic farmer. Remembering that agri-
cultural production is the basis of all produc-
tion, the transfer of scientific knowledge from
the professions to the fields must, with such
earnest men as Mr. Moomaw result beneficial-
Leon A. Moomaw is a native of Nebraska,
born in Scottsbluff county, December 27,
1887, and is a son of Austin and Agnes
(Spriggs) Moomaw. The father was born
in Illinois, fifty-seven years ago, and the moth-
er was born in Missouri. In 1886 they came
to Nebraska and homesteaded in Scottsbluff
county, where the father has ever since been
a general farmer. Later he secured a tree
claim in Morrill county. Until he was twen-
ty-two years old, Leon A. Moomaw resided
on his father's farm, but in the meanwhile
his education was attended to and from the
local schools he entered Cotner at Lincoln,
from which he was graduated with the degree
of A. B. Later he entered the State University
at Lincoln, from which he bore off the degree
of A. M. He then entered the educational
field, in no subordinate position, however, but
as a member of the faculty of Cotner Univer-
sity, in which institution he was professor of
history for three years.
In 1914 he was united in marriage to Miss
Minnie E. Young, who was born in South Da-
kota, July 25, 1886. Her parents, Hiram and
Sarah (Adams) Young, lived in Iowa.
Since 1909 they have lived retired at Lincoln,
Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Moomaw have two
children: Evelyn and Robert. In 1912 both
Mr. and Mrs. Moomaw homesteaded in Ban-
ner county and they are still holding their
1,180 acres of dry land there, the subsequent
development of which may be stupendous. In
1913 they came to Morrill county and he
took charge of his father's old tree claim, has
200 acres, and has devoted his best efforts to
the development of this land ever since. All
the land is now irrigated and under Mr. Moo-
maw's intelligent management is a wonder-
fully productive property. He has placed
fine improvements here and has one of the
spaciouse modern homes of this section. Both
he and wife are members of the Christian
church, and they have a wide social circle.
Although not active politically, Mr. Moomaw
is not an indifferent citizen, but on the other
hand, every movement that promises to be of
substantial and permanent benefit to the coun-
tv, finds in him an earnest advocate.
JAMES A. CADWELL, who will long be
remembered as one of the fine men of Mor-
rill county, passed away at his home on the
beautiful farm he had worked hard to de-
velop and improve, on January 8, 1918. His
birth took place in Saunders county, Nebras-
ka, March 27, 1878. He was a son of John
T. and Sarah E. (Gilbert) Cadwell, both of
whom were born in Ohio. They were early
settlers in eastern Nebraska and homesteaders,
and they passed away on their farm in Saun-
ders county.
James A. Cadwell grew to manhood in his
native county and was educated in the public
schools. With self-respecting independence
and wise provision, as soon as his schooldays
were over, he learned the trade of a carpenter
and followed the same to some extent even
after he became interested in farming. He
was a man of high principles, and when his
country became embroiled in war with Spain,
he enlisted as a soldier and served all through
the Spanish-American war.
In 1901 James Asa Cadwell was united in
marriage to Miss Lulu Parks, who was born in
Lancaster county, Nebraska, a daughter of
Theodore and Florence (Spencer) Parks, the
former of whom was born at Plattesmouth,
Nebraska, and the latter of Massachusetts.
They still reside in Nebraska and Mr. Parks
continues his agricultural industries. The fol-
lowing children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Cadwell : Everett, Jessie, Clarence, Glenn,
Dorothy, Florence, Vera, Eliza and Maxine.
Mr. Cadwell was ever anxious concerning his
children's welfare and gave them every ad-
vantage in his power.
In 1905 Mr. Cadwell come to Morrill coun-
ty and homesteaded and his family joined him
in the following year. He left them a well
improved farm of one hundred and ten acres,
eighty-seven acres of which are irrigated. He
was never an active politician in the sense of
desiring to hold public office, and was always a
Republican, although he entertained a high
personal opinion of William Jennings Bryan,
who had been the colonel of his regiment in
the Spanish-American war. With his family
he belonged to the Baptist church at Ashland,
Nebraska.
JOHN ROBERTSON. — Coming to the
United States from his native Scotland, where
he was born September 27, 1862, when but
seventeen years of age, Mr. Robertson has
spent -almost forty years in Nebraska and a
goodly portion of them in Morrill county,
where he is widely known and much respected.
He accompanied his parents to Quebec, Can-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
145
ada, but they never came into this country.
Mr. Robertsan spent three years at Schuyler,
in Colfax county, Nebraska, and then made his
way to Scottsbluff county, finding the present
busy, prosperous, little city of Gering, a set-
tlement of two log houses and one sod house.
Later he homesteaded in Morrill county and
pre-empted an entire section of land, all of
which he has sold.
Mr. Robertson was married at Columbus,
Nebraska, to Miss Myrtle May Folnsbee, who
was born in Missouri, and they have had
children as follows: Mrs. Mary Hays, lives at
Mitchell, Nebraska ; Harry, lives at Whealand,
Wyoming; Mrs. Alta Detrick, lives in Mis-
souri; Robert, a farmer; John, safely returned
home from military service in France ; Clif-
ford who went to France with the American
Expeditionary Force as did his older brother,
spent fifteen months in France, and saw hard
service, later being attached to the army of
occupation in Germany; and Myrtle, who re-
sides at home. Mr. Robertson is an inde-
pendent voter.
LLVN O. .McHENRY, one of the leading
merchants of Morrill, is distinctly a Nebraska
product as he is a native son of Scottsbluff
county. Here he was born, here he was reared
and educated, here he married, and here he has
practically lived his life to the present time.
He belongs to a family which is well and favor-
ably known in the county and also the Pan-
handle and which is highly respected for its
contribution to the civic and material welfare
and progress of this section of the state.
Llyn McHenry was born in ScottsblufT coun-
ty. May 26, 1891, being the son of Oliver O.
and Mary J. (Hall) McHenry. of whom com-
plete mention and portraits appear on other
pages of this volume, to whom were born five
children: Elizabeth, who married John A. Bur-
ton and now lives in Califdrnia; Matthew H.,
a resident of Gering; Lucy, wim married John
M. Springer and now lives in California;
Harrv H., who resides at Springer. Wvo. : and
Llyn'O.
Llyn grew up here in his native county, at-
tended the excellent public schools, and thus
laid the foundation for his subse(|uent business
career. After his school days were over he
accepted a position in the county court house
as deputy clerk of the district court, a position
which he so ably filled that he remained in
office for seven years. The young man. how-
ever, had decided that he would enter business
independently and with an idea of learning the
intricacies of finance first hand, entered the
Gering National Bank of Gering, where he was
able to gain practical and theoretical knowl-
edge of banking. Two years later, while hold-
ing a lucrative and responsible position with
this institution Mr. McHenry responded to his
country's call for men to enter the army and
aid the United States and the Allies to make
the world safe for democracy and rid it of the
horror of the Hun. After entering the army
he was stationed at Fort Logan for a year and
a half and after receiving liis honorable dis-
charge at the close n\ hostilities returned to
Scottsbluff county. Sui.ii after returning Mr.
McHenry formed a partncr.shi]) with R. B. E.
Quick and the two men established the Quick
Drug Ciimpan}- at Morrill, Neb. They have
a fine store binlding, excellent and attractive
ecjuipment and are able to handle a constantly
growing trade. Mr. ]\IcHenry's varied busi-
ness experiences as well as those in the army
supplement the natural ability and qualifica'-
tions which mark him as an able executive in
any line of business, thus he and his partner
are conducting successfully an establishment
that has varied demands and requires far sight
as well as work to keep abreast of the con-
stantly changing demands and wider field.
That they are fully able to do this is demon-
strated by their gratifying returns financially
as well as the ever-increasing clientele which
they enjoy.
Rlr. McHenry is a Republican in politics and
though he is the supporter and advocate of
every movement for the improvement of Jilor-
rill and the surrounding district and in every
way lives up to his own high standard of
American citizenship he is now far too busy
to take an active part in politics, but throws his
influence to the man best qualified to serve the
county and city. He is a wide reader of the
best literature of the day as well as a student
of subjects allied with his business and thus
keeps abreast (if the times and for the firm we
predict a prosperous and successful future.
On May 29, 1912, Mr. McHenry married
Aliss Delight Byers, who is also a native of our
great commonwealth, born in Washington
county, where she was reared and was given
the benefit of an excellent education. Mrs.
McHenry is a gracious woman of charming
personality, who has made many friends in the
city of Morrill, where the McHenry home is
regarded as one of the most hospitable. ]\Ir.
and Mrs. McHenry have one child, Ina Cor-
rine, who is at home. The entire McHenry
family are splendid people and well merit the
high esteem of their friends and their business
associates. Scottsbluff county is the richer by
the mere fact that it has such citizens who will
hand down to posterity their traditions and
high ideals of what true Americans should be.
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
146
\NDREW J. DUNHAM, who is one of
Morrill county's substantial farmers and stock-
men is also one who has built up his fortune
throucjh individual effort. Left an orphan
when five vears old. his memories of childhood
and earlv Vouth have no home setting, arid the
opportunities that came to better his condition,
were those he found for himself. _
\ndrew J Dunham was born in Manstield,
Connecticut. November 5, 1860, a son of Eph-
raim and Marv (Little) Dunham. His young
mother died when he was born, and his father
when the bov was five years old. He was
cared for in the citv of Windsor. \ irginia but
lived in Newhampshire for the next four
years and before starting out on his ovyn ac-
count had some educational training, and lived
in Massachusetts and Connecticutt until at
the age of twenty-one years he began
working in ^linnesota remaining there un-
til 1888 when he came to Box Butte county
Nebraska, and homesteaded near Hemingford
and proved up on his one hundred and sixty
acres He lived there for about twenty years
and then moved to Morrill county. Here, in
1907 he bought a relinquishment claim of
one hundred and sixty acres and subsequently
an entire half section of land. He now has
four hundred and eighty acres of fine graz-
ing land and feeds fifty head of cattle and one
hunred head of hogs annually, and carries on
general farming on his eighty irrigated acres.
Mr Dunham is quite modest over all he has
accomplished, but undoubtedly it shows strong
character and high principles and Mr. Dun-
ham deserves great credit.
Mr. Dunham married Miss Lena Ander-
son, who was born in Norway, where her
parents spent their entire lives. Eight children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunham,
namelv: Mrs. Eva Fleheaty, of Bayard, Ne-
braska ; Mrs. Myrtle Ross, of Bayard ; Melvin,
a farmer in Morrill county ; and Verne, Opal,
Hattie. Hazel and Anna, all at home. The
children have attended school regulariy and
have been taught to prize an education. Mr.
Dunham has been a member of the town
school board for ten years. He is independent
in politics.
EMMONS C. VIVLAN. who is a repre-
sentative of one of the old and substantial
pioneer families of Morrill county, Nebraska,
has spent the greater part of his life here, be-
ing a youth of sixteen years when he accom-
panied his parents to this section. He was
born in Cass countv, Nebraska, August 24,
1872.
The father of Mr. Vivian, Richard Vivian,
was born in England, in 1830. In 1844 ac-
companied by a brother, he took passage in
a sailing vessel, which was on the sea for three
months before reaching the harbor of New
York. During the voyage the brother of Mr.
Vivian disappeared and supposedly was ac-
cidentally drowned. Richard Vivian was a
fine man and it would be interesting to know
how the young English boy spent his time
before he came to Nebraska, which was prior
to 1872. In the meanwhile he was married to
Miss Ehzabeth Frazier, who was a native of
New York. She died in Nebraska, March 10.
1896. They had four children, of whom Em-
mons Clarkson was the last born. In 1888
Richard Vivian removed from Cass to old
Cheyenne, now ^Morrill county, and took a
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and
a tree claim of the same extent. The entire
purchase at that time was nothing but wild
prairie, but Mr. Vivian lived to see great
changes wrought through his industry. At the
present time all that land is irrigated and
wonderfully productive. Mr. Vivian died m
1911. having been very successful as a farmer
and ranchman.
Emmons Clarkson Vivian remained with his
father and grew to manhood well acquainted
with farm and ranch life. In 1897 he home-
steaded one hundred and sixty acres for him-
self, under better conditions perhaps, than
had attended his father, but under no such fa-
vorable opportunities as at present are present-
ed, when the homeseeker, if he has sufficient
capital, may possibly secure an irrigated farm
that will produce more abundantly than in
any other state in the Union. Mr. Vivian's
homestead is such a farm, all irrigated and
finely improved. Adjoining his farm is the
forty-nine acre farm of his wife, also improved
and'irrigated, and it is upon this tract that the
comfortable farm-house stands.
In Morrill county, in 1900, Mr. Vivian was
united in marriage to Miss Blanche Snider,
who was born April 4, 1879, at Kirksville,
:Missouri. She is a daughter of Albertus and
Armilda (Legan) Snider, the former of whom
was born in Ohio and the latter in Indiana.
They came to Nebraska some thirty years
ago and homesteaded near Camp Clark. They
now live retired in Idaho. Mr. and Mrs.
Vivian have one child, Carol. Mrs. Vivian |
is a lady of intellectual requirements and
has interested herself greatly in the mat-
ter of public education. Her work in this
direction has been recognized by election to
the school board, on which she has served
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
faithfully and efficiently for six years. Mr.
and Mrs. Vivian are widely known and uni-
versally esteemed.
ZIBA V.ALETTE CLEVELAND, who is
a very highly esteemed resident of Bayard,
came early to Nebraska and for many years
was a substantial farmer. He was born in the
state of New York, April 24, 1844. His par-
ents were S. A. and Ruth (Ferris) Cleveland,
who spent their lives in New York. Mr.
Cleveland's oldest brother died in the Civil
War. One brother, I. A. Cleveland, is a re-
tired druggist living in Chicago, and a sister,
Mrs. Ida J. Weed, lives in New York.
From his native state Mr. Cleveland went
to Iowa and bought land on which he followed
farming for twenty years. In 1886 he mov-
ed to Banner county, Nebraska, homesteaded,
pre-empted and secured a tree claim and sub-
sequently proved up on all, when there were
but three houses between his homestead and
Kimball. He sold out there and in Banner
county and moved to near McCTrew and
from there retired to Bayard. He built the
first frame house in Hull precinct and the
first school in the precinct was held in his
kitchen for three months. Later Mrs. Cleve-
land taught three terms of school in a sod
house.
In Iowa, in 1875, Mr. Cleveland was mar-
ried to Miss Mary Warrington, a daughter of
David and Sarah Jane Warrington, the
former of whom was born in Indiana and the
latter in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Cleve-
land had four sons bom to them, namely:
Bert, who is a farmer in Scottsbluff county;
Ralph, who lives at Spokane, Washington ;
Lee R., who lives at Bayard ; and Roy, who
died when aged twenty-five years. Air. and
Mrs. Cleveland have a very comfortable home
at Bayard. He has always been interested in
the public schools and has served on school
boards for thirty years. He has also been a
justice of the peace. In politics he has always
been a Republican and has voted for fifty
years. He is independent as regards religious
beliefs.
VERT B. CARGILL, the owner and man-
aging editor of the IV est cm Nebraska Ob-
scrfcr, published at Kimball, is one of the
most prominent members of the newspaper
fraternity of the Panhandle, where he has
been located nearly a decade. A journalist
in this twentieth century occupies a vantage
ground from which great influence extends;
he may build up a cause worthy of public
support ; may lead men to action in state and
civic affairs and plays an important part in
the development of the section of the country
where his paper circulates. Not only the city
of Kimball, but Kimball county as a whole
has large reason for congratulation that the
Observer is in such skillea, safe, sagacious
and thoroughly clean hands. It is one of the
best general newspapers published in the Pan-
handle, as well as an outspoken, fair play ex-
ponent of the best elements of the Republican
party ; it is in all respects well worth the care
and sound judgment displayed in its col-
umns and reflects credit on the owner-editor,
Vert B. Cargill.
Mr. Cargill was born in Iowa, July 14,
1884, the son of Ezra C. and Stella E. Car-
gill, was reared in his native state and re-
ceived his education in the public schools of
Shannon City. Soon after graduating from
the high school, the young man entered the
employ of the Shamion City Sun, to learn the
practical end of the newspaper business. He
worked in the printing department from 1900
until the following year, leaving to become
associated with the Gravity (Iowa) Inde-
pendent, where he finished his apprenticeship
as printer. Having mastered the trade, I^r.
Cargill rose rapidly in the printing business
for so young a man and became the foreman
of the Corning (Iowa) Free Press in July,
1905. This business connection continued for
nearly five years during which time he learned
all the varied intricacies of the publishing and
newspaper business, became well and favor-
ably known among the publishers of Iowa
and in June, 1910, was offered and accepted
the position of managing editor of the Afton
(Iowa) Star-Enterprise. In July he took
charge of that sheet, soon becoming a joint
owner of it in partnership with Senator
Charles Thomas, of Kent, Iowa. Three years
later Mr. Cargill sold his interest in the Star-
Enterprise to Mr. O. T. Meyers. After look-
ing over the Nebraska territory, he came to
the belief that there was a great future for
men of the Panhandle and cast in his lot with
this section when he bought the IVestcrn Ne-
braska Obscri-er published at Kimball. Tak-
ing over the management of the paper in
August of that year, Mr. Cargill has enlarged
the original plant, has a good and lucrative
job printing Ijusiness which is run in connec-
tion with the paper which today is one of the
live, up-to-date, progressive publications of
the western half of the state, yielding a strong
and wide spread influence in Kimball and ad-
joining counties, where it plays an important
part in the moulding of public opinion.
148
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Mr. Carg-ill is one of the progressive men
of the middle west who advocates personally
as well as editorially all movements that tend
to the development of the city and county. He
is alert to present to the people the latest and
best discoveries in agriculure, irrigation and
education thus being a great force for progress.
He is a staunch supporter of the tenets of
the Republican party and served as county
chairman of the Republican County Committee
and at all times takes an active part in local
politics and affairs.
Mr. Cargill is a charter member of the
Masonic Lodge No. 294 of Kimball and was
Master of the organization from 1917 to 1919.
July 31, 1911 Mr. Cargill was united in
marriage with Miss Belle M. McElroy, the
daughter of Samuel and Mary McElroy, at
Corning, Iowa. The McElroy family are of
Irish extraction and Mrs. Cargill's parents
were born in the Emerald Isle, coming to
America many years ago. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cargill : Mary El-
zene and Wayne McElroy, seven and five
years of age respectively. Since coming to
the southwestern part of Nebraska, the Car-
gill family have made many warm friends in
Kimball, where they are progressive and lead-
ing residents of a growing and populous city.
OSCAR E. FORSLING, sheriff of Kim-
ball county, Nebraska, most efficiently fills an
office of danger and importance. As long as
unruly elements insist on breaking the law in
a community, public officials must be elected to
curb them in order to protect the innocent.
These officials, in the nature of things, must
be men of great personal courage as well as
of close discernment and sound judgment.
Such an official is the sheriff of Kimball coun-
ty-
Oscar E. Forsling was born July 19, 1873,
in Sweden. His parents were John and Inga
Forsling. Their nine children all reached ma-
turity, the following members beside Oscar
E. being well known in this locality : Anna,
who married B. A. Norberg, and their son. En-
sign Thor Norberg, was an officer at Great
Lakes training station, Chicago, during the
great war; Alfred, who occupies his ranch
situated eight miles west of Kimball ; Clarence
A., who is a large landowner in Kamball coun-
ty, served two terms as county sheriff; Au-
gusta, who married Rev. A. M. Breener,
chaplain at Camp Taylor during the World
War, they being the parents of three sons in
the service, one of whom, Paul, died at Des
Moines, a victim of influenza; Frank, who
lives at Kimball; and Emma, who is the wife
of E. A. Hagstroni, a prominent farmer liv-
ing six miles from Kimball. In 1883 the par-
ents of Sheriff Forsling came to the United
States and for one year afterward the father
worked in the Pullman shops at Pullman, Illi-
nois, then came to Nebraska and in 1889 filed
on a homestead in Kimball county.
Oscar E. Forsling was twelve years old
when he accompanied his parents to Kimball
county, and grew up on his father's prairie
farm. Some fifteen years of his life were
spent riding range as a cowboy in Colorado,
W'yoming and southern Montana, and thus his
thorough knowledge of this western country
can scarcely be overestimated, not only hav-
ing knowledge of the configuration of the
country, but of the people, among whom he
has hosts of friends.
On November 25, 1900. Oscar E. Forsling
was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Whit-
man, who is a daughter of Fred M. and Mary
(Francis) Whitman. Sheriff and Mrs. Fors-
ling are members of the Presbyterian church.
In politics he has always believed in the prin-
ciples of the Republican party and has taken
a somewhat active part in its councils in Kim-
ball county. After serving six years as depu-
ty county sheriff, he was elected sheriff in the
fall of 1907 and is still serving. For a num-
ber of years he has been prominent in the
fraternal order of Knights of Pythias, in
which he has passed all the local chairs and
after serving one term as deputy grand chan-
cellor, in 1918 was again elected, and on sever-
al occasion has attended the meetings of the
Grand Lodge in an official capacity. He be-
longs also to the order of Modern Woodmen
of America.
WILLIAM D. ATKINS, one of the promi-
nent and representative men of Kimball coun-
ty, has spent many useful years in this sec-
tion, to which he came with his father, March
22, 1889. He was born in Davis county, Iowa,
September 2, 1869, son of Peter L. and Delilah
Atkins. He has one brother, Dallas K., who
lives in Kimball county.
William D. Atkins grew up on his father's
farm in Davis county and obtained his school-
ing there. When his father decided to move
to Nebraska and secure a homestead, William
D. determined on the same course and both
father and son proved up on their land in
Kimball county. They at first went into the
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
149
sheep business and later raised cattle also.
The father died December 12, 1908, but the
mother survives and lives on the old home-
stead adjoining that of William D. His early
years in Kimball county were mainly spent in
herding cattle and working on the farm. In
later years Mr. Atkins has extended his in-
terests and is now one of the county's sub-
stantial farmers.
In 1890, Mr. Atkins was united in marriage
to Miss Elizabeth Pywell, daughter of John
and Mary Ann Pywell, both of whom are de-
ceased. Their family consisted of three sons
and three daughters, the survivors all living
in Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Atkins three
daughters and two sons were born : Mabel,
the wife of George Ketch, of Kimball ; Arthur
E., who served overseas in the great war, in
the One hundred and ninth Engineers, was
promoted to top sergeant, returned to America
safely and was honorably discharged at Fort
Dodge, July 1, 1919; Grace, the wife of Har-
ley Neely ; Ira, who assists his father ; Mary,
deceased ; and Heloise, at home.
For many years Mr. Atkins has been ac-
tive in the councils of the Democratic party.
Fully twenty-five years ago he was elected
chairman of the town board and one many
occasions since has filled important ofTices, in
1914, being elected a county commissioner,
the only one of his party candidates elected,
and in 1919 was re-elected for a second term
of four years. He has also served as highway
commissioner. He signed the franchise for
the first telephone company in the county, lie
is prominent in the order of Knights of
Pythias, being past chancellor, and also in the
Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Atkins
and his family belong to the Methodist Epis-
copal church.
YORICK NICHOLS was born in Tioga
county, Pennsylvania, in 1863, the son of Wil-
liam A. and Nancy (Mitchell) Nichols, both
natives of Pennsylvania. The father was an
attornev who practiced law at Wellsboro,
Pennsylvania, until 1869, at which time he re-
moved til i\ans;is, where he continued his law
practice and at the same time took a homestead
and proved up on it. He did the first hard-
wood building in that county, having floated
lumber across the Neosho river with an ox
team. He also dug the first cellar in Neosho
county, started the town of Tioga, Kansas, and
practiced his profession there until he died in
1873, a successful man and one of the pioneers
who helped to start the development of the
great West following the Civil War.
Ynrick Nichols was the oldest boy of five
children in the family. The others were : May,
the wife rif Henry Block, now deceased; Car-
roll, who died in Morrill a few years ago. and
who together with his brother Yorick built the
first substantial building in that town ; Willis,
who lives at Sweetgrass, Montana, and is the
owner of the townsite at that place ; and
Blanche, now Mrs. Henry Russell, at Mitchell,
Nebraska.
Air. XichdL still keeps as one of his most
prized relics his father's commission as a cap-
tain in Hancock's corps of the L'nion army,
signed bv rreM<k'nt Alir;iliani Linciln.
In 1882 ^•nnck Xichul^ came t.) Wyoming
and worked as a cowboy. He took a preemp-
tion claim and timber claim in that part of old
Cheyenne countv, Nebraska, which is now
Scottsbluft' county, and also a homestead of 320
acres in \\'\(iniin.:^, with 100 .aero under irriga-
tion. He 'has followed sK^kraisiii.t; for his
main occupation all his life, feeding in the win-
ter time, and raising a good grade of stock.
He ran cattle on 5,000 acres adjoining the pres-
ent town of Henry, Nebraska, which town was
founded by him. His place is now known as
"Little Moon Ranch."
He was married first to Alice D. Dyer, a
native of England and a woman of literary
talent who did quite a little writing. She is
now deceased. They had an adopted son,
Henry B. Dyer, who met an accidental death
by drowning a few years ago. It was in his
honor the town of Henry was named.
Mr. Nichols' present wife was Maude Law-
rence, a native of Nebraska. She is a member
of the Christian church.
Mr. Nichols is an independent voter. He is
one of the best known of the old-timers of
westeren Nebraska and eastern Wyoming, and
claims the distinction of being the first bona
fide settler in this part of the North Platte
valley.
CALVIN NEELY, one of Kimball coun-
ty's highly esteemed citizens, for many years
was engaged in the stock business but now
lives practically retired in his comfortable
home at Kimball. Mr. Neely was born in
Grant county, Wisconsin, December 27, 1861.
His parents were Samuel and Anna Neely,
who had eleven children and eight of these
reached maturity. Samuel Neely enlisted m
the Forty-second Volunteer Infantry in the
Civil War at Lancaster, Wisconsin, and was
honorably discharged at Cairo, Illinois.
Calvin Neely grew up in Wisconsin and ob-
tained his schooling there. As one of a large
family he early had to assist in his own sup-
150
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
port by working on farms and herding cattle
and remember how far he felt from home and
how big the world looked to him, when his
father sent the eleven-year old boy to look
after the herding a dozen miles away. He
accompanied his parents to Nebraska in 1886,
when his father homesteaded in Cheyenne
county. The family lived there about eight
years, then moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming,
where the father died, the mother returning
then to Nebraska, where she lived with a
daughter until her own death.
In 1887 Calvin Neely was united in marriage
to Miss Ella M. Bliss, daughter of Ambrose
K. BHss. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss came to Ne-
braska in 1886 and located in Cheyenne coun-
ty, where he homesteaded one hundred and
sixty acres and proved up on the claim. In
1898 they moved to Eaton, Colorado. The
mother died in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1901,
and the father died in Denver, Colorado in
1908. Mr. Bliss was a corporal in Company
C of the Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry, and
served for three years, being mustered out at
Galveston, Texas, July 14. 1865. Mrs. Neely
was one of a family of eleven children, like
her husband, and all reached maturity ex-
cept one who died when fourteen months old.
The Bliss family lived in Wisconsin, but Mr.
and Mrs. Neely were married in Cheyenne
county, Nebraska. They became the parents
of three sons and one daughter, namely:
Charles Vere, Chester C, Harlan L. and Doris
G. All three sons were soldiers in the great
war that has left its black trail of sorrow in
so many homes. The eldest son of Mr. and
Mrs. Neely, Charles Vere Neely, was well
and affectionately known all through Kimball
county, for he had qualities that won him
friends wherever he went. For about twelve
years before entering the National army, he
had lived at Golden, Fruitdale and Maple
Grove, Colorado. He was sent from Golden
in the draft contingent leaving April 27, 1918,
to Camp Funston, where he was assigned to
the Three hundred and fifty- fourth infantry
and was sent overseas with the Eighty-ninth
division. Although, through bravery exposed
on hundreds of occasions to a soldier's haz-
ard, he escaped injury until the practical end-
ing of the war, receiving his death wound
just fifty minutes before the signing of the
armistice that ended the fighting. In a beauti-
ful, touching letter received subsequently by
the bereaved family, his closest comrade during
their sojourn in France, says : "a better buddy
in every way, a more fearless soldier, a quick-
er or more dependable rtmner, and a^ surer
guide, never lived." Neely Post No. 22, at
Kimball was named in his honor.
Chester C. Neely, the second son, is an
overseas soldier who is now at home, having
been honorably discharged from military serv-
ice. May 17, 1919, at Camp Lee, Virginia. He
had twelve months of training at Camp Fun-
ston and Camp Cody, New Mexico, then went
to France attached to company A, One hun-
dred and ninth engineers, Thirty-fourth divi-
sion, and served there eight months. Harlan
L., the third son, was in training for some
months at Lincoln, Nebraska, and Camp Sher-
man, Ohio, and was honorably discharged.
The one daughter of the family, Doris G., a
high school graduate, is employed in a Kim-
ball business house as a bookkeeper and re-
sides with her parents. Mr. Neely and his
family are members of the Presbyterian
church.
SAMUEL B. HANNA, who has the dis-
tinction of being the second oldest real estate
dealer, in point of time, in Kimball county,
came here in 1906 and has built up an ex-
tensive business connection in land and insur-
ance. Mr. Hanna was born in Fayette coun-
ty, Ohio, April 7, 1870. His parents were
James and Tabitha Hanna. His mother died
May 28, 1870, leaving a daughter, since de-
ceased, and Samuel B., an infant. In 1904
his father came to Nebraska and bought land
in the Wood River valley, on which he lived
until 1907, when he moved to Oklahoma and
his death occurred in 1915. at Hennessey, in
Kingfisher county. Both parents were mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church, solid, re-
spectable people of good old Scotch-Irish
stock.
Samuel B. Hanna had adequate school op-
portunities in his youth but no special ad-
vantages. In 1906 he came to Kimball coun-
ty and on June 1, of that year, embarked in
the real estate and insurance business, having
secured an agency from W. F. Shelton, of
Omaha, in the sale of Union Pacific Railroad
lands. In fulfilling this contract Mr. Hanna
has handled many thousand acres of land, dis-
posing of the last tracts in this section in 1911.
Perhaps no one in the business is better quali-
fied concerning land of every description and
value all through Nebraska, and many east-
ern firms consult him concerning investments.
He also represents old line insurance com-
panies. In every phase of his business Mr.
Hanna has been found reliable and upright.
In 1892 Mr. Hanna was united in marriage
to Miss Effie M. Briggs, who was born at
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
151
Greenfield, Ohio, a daughter of Jesse and
Delilah Briggs, farming people. To Mr. and
Mrs. Briggs nine children have been born :
Charles Wesley, a minister in the Methodist
Episcopal church, in Ohio ; Elijah, deceased,
was a farmer; Jesse, died in 1918; Ef¥ie and
Elmer, twins, the latter of whom died in in-
fancy; Clara, the wife of Edward Preston;
Martha, resides at Greenfield, Ohio ; Rebecca,
the wife of William Roseboom, a retired
farmer of Summitville, Indiana ; and Emma,
who was the wife of William Fisher. The
family home is a handsome modern residence
on the corner of Fourth and Chesnut streets,
Kimball. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hanna are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He is prominent in the order of Kinghts of
Pythias, being a past chancellor and deputy
grand chancellor and master of finance in the
local body, and belongs also to the Modern
Woodmen.
WILLIAM J. CRONN, who has been a
prominent citizen of Kimball for many years,
active in business and foremost in civic affairs,
was born at Millbrook, Ulster county, New Jer-
sey, July 7, 1860. He was reared and edu-
cated in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, had
public School advantages, and was twenty
years old when he went to Wisconsin, his
parents following about eight months later.
The family lived in the above named state
for five years and then the father moved to
Nebraska, in 1885, locating in Colfax county.
In 1890 he took up a homestead in Banner
county but at a later date sold it and moved
to California, where they are still living near
Los Angeles, being aged about eighty-six
years. Of their thirteen children nine are
living. They are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church.
William J. Cronn was thirty-eight years old
when he came to Kimball county and started
into business in the village as a painter and
paper-hanger. Business prospects at that time
were not very bright for the village and Mr.
Cronn remembers seeing three of the rather
limited number of houses moved by their
owners out on their ranches. He found
plenty to do however, as he was the only man
in his line in the neighborhood and the most
of the painting and paper-hanging jobs be-
tween Sidney and Cheyenne came to him. He
now has a paint and paper store at Kimball
and is a contractor in this line of work. He
owns considerable propertly at Kimball in-
cluded in which is his fine modern residence.
In 188S Mr. Cronn was united in marriage
to Miss Hattie Longworth, a daughter of
William Longworth and wife, who reside
in Schuyler, Colfax county, Nebraska. The
latter have three daughters and one son : Ethel,
the wife of Mr. McGregor, has five children;
Alice, who married Mr. Wilson and resides
at Kimball ; Chester, a painter by trade ; and
Irene, her father's assistant in the store.
From the first Mr. Cronn has been enterpris-
ing and progressive as a citizen. He has been
mayor of the city and is now serving in his
third term as city alderman. In speaking of
him his fellow citizens say, "he is a fine man."
Mr. Cronn and his family belong to the Metho-
dist Episcopal church.
GEORGE W. HARVEY, who is a highly
respected retired resident of Kimball, came
to Nebraska many years ago, and in one way
or another, has been identified with the sub-
stantial development of several sections of the
state. He belongs to that sturdy group of
pioneers who blazed the way for those who
later more comfortably followed the trail.
George W. Harvey was born in Hardin
county, Ohio, March 19, 1849. His parents
were Brice and Caroline Harvey, who were
married on February 18, 1847. They had two
children, George W. and Mary D., the latter
of whom died in infancy. The father died
oni the old homestead in Ohio, June 8, 1856.
The mother remained a widow six years, then
married John Merritt, a fine man, a farmer
and stockman of Jones county, Iowa. To the
second marriage of Mr. Harvey's mother sev-
en children were born, and the mother died
February 16, 1904, on the homestead situated
three miles west of Olin, Iowa.
After his father died and until his mother
married again, George W. Harvey lived with
his grandparents and an uncle, then went to
Iowa with his mother and step-father, the latter
treating his stepson very kindly and he re-
mained at home until he was twenty-one years
old. In August, 1871, Mr. Harvey was united
in marriage to Aliss Cora A. Williams, a
daughter of Harris and Louise (Young) Will-
iams. Mrs. Harvey had one brother, who
died in infancy. Her mother died in Illinois,
while her father was a farmer and stock-
raiser, near Joliet, but he later moved to Iowa
and died in Jones county. To Mr. and Mrs.
Harvey the following children were born :
Celesta, born August 8, 1872, died in infancy
in Iowa ; Lillian, born October 8, 1873, is the
wife of John McKinnon, who owns a fruit
farm in California; Charles, born May 27,
1875, is a rancher in Montana; Ella, born
152
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
March 8, 1877, is the wife of Frank O. Ba-
ker, who is a banker; Arthur, born June 18,
1878, is in business at JoHet, Wyoming, is
married and has three Hving children; Earl,
born March 18, 1881, conducts a stock ranch
and farm in Banner county, is married and
has seven children; and Nina E., bom April
30, 1882, is the wife of William Deakin, of
Omaha.
■ In 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Harvey came to Ne-
braska and located in Burt county, the near-
est market town being Decatur. They remain-
ed in Burt county for some years, Mr. Harvey
buying three hundred and twenty acres, which
he sold in 1888 and then they came to what is
now Banner county, just prior to the contest
over the county seat, details of which are
found in the county annals. After taking up
a pre-emption in Banner county he proved up.
remained twelve years and from time to time
bought land until he now owns seventeen hun-
dred and sixty acres of fine land there. Mr.
and Mrs. Harvey's first home was in a tent
that served them for six months, when Mrs.
Harvey's uncle, Ebenezer Williams, built them
a stone house, Mrs. Harvey assisted in mixing
the mortar, and a warm, comfortable resi-
dence was the result. When Mr. Harvey had
his house ready to move into, he had just sev-
enty-five cents in his pocket, and when his
household goods arrived at Kimball he could
not find any place to store them, so hauled
them out to his homestead, covered them with
boards and left them undisturbed until he had
managed to put in a crop on forty acres.
Mr. Harvey at that time had to drive sixty
miles to Cheyenne to find a market for his
crop, and received thirty-five cents a bushel
for wheat that took the first prize at the state
fair and also the sweepstake prize for the
best wheat grown in Nebraska. Like other
settlers he faced hard times on many occa-
sions, often worked for seventy-five cents a
day at anything that offered, and during one
winter Mrs. Harvey went to Cheyenne and
did nursing in order to add to the family ex-
chequer, and at other times she remained to
look after the crops while Mr. Harvey and
son Charles worked for John Gordon on
Horse Creek. It was not all work and no
play in early times, however, and Mr. Harvey
had an enjoyable occasion, when settlers from
all over the county met in Bull Canyon and
got acquainted with each other, that being the
first "get together" meeting they ever had, but
not the last. At one time Mr. Harvey had an
open range in Banner county of fifty-five sec-
tions and it took him three days to ride
around it. The first school house was built
by the settlers, a log structure 16x24 feet in
dimensions, which was used for some years
as the taxes in the district did not prove suffi-
cient to build a new one. In 1909 Mr. Harvey
came to Kimball and bought fifty acres and a
comfortable residence. He and wife are mem-
bers of the Presbvterian church.
FRANCIS O. BAKER, who is a man of
business prominence in Kimball county, where
he has large land interests as well as in Ban-
ner county, is president of the Bushnell State
Bank at Bushnell. Mr. Baker was born in
1863 in De Kalb county. Illinois. His parents,
William and Mary (Newport) Baker, were
born near Dover, England, and after coming
to the United States lived for two years near
Syracuse, New York, then moved to De Kalb
county, Illinois. In 1877 they went to Ne-
braska, settling in Saline county, where the
father yet lives, but the mother died in June,
1917. They had children as follows: an in-
fant that died at birth ; Mattie, who married
Emmett Buckingham of Beaver Crossing. Ne-
braska, and they have five children ; Charles,
who is a retired farmer and stockman, lives
at Lincoln; Francis O, who was fourteen
years old when he came to Nebraska ; and Ad-
die, who is deceased.
Francis O. Baker had public school ad-
vantages in Illinois, accompanied his parents
to Saline county, Nebraska in 1877, and re-
mained at home assisting his father until he
was twenty-four years old. At that time he
went to Banner county, where he homesteaded
one hundred and sixty acres, on which he
proved up and to which he subsequently added.
Mr. Baker now owns four sections of land in
Banner county and one section in Kimball
county, having lesser interests in other coun-
ties. In May, 1910, Mr. Baker came to Bush-
nell and embarked in the mercantile business,
shortly afterward organizing the Bushnell
State Bank, He served this institution at first
as cashier, but in 1917 was elected president
and has ably directed its affairs ever since,
making it one of the sound, stable banks of
the county, Mr. Baker having the full confi-
dence of the public in his business sagacity
and personal integrity.
Mr. Baker was married in 1893, to Miss
Ella Harvey, a daughter of George W. Har-
vey, a prominent retired citizen of Kimball.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker have three children:
Charles, born in 1898, has finished his high
school course and is assisting his father;
Robert born March 8, 1904; and Alice, born
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
153
September 1, 1906. Mr. Baker and family
attend the Presbyterian church. He is identi-
fied with the fraternal order of Modern Wood-
men of America.
PERRY BRAZIEL is one of the real pio-
neers of the \\'est, the son of one of the pio-
neers of the middle states. He was born in
Madison, Wisconsin, in 1854, the son of Robert
Braziel, who was born in Tennessee and died in
the 70's. His mother's maiden name was
Steele.. She was a native of North Canilina,
and died at the age of fifty years. The father
moved to Illinois in 1812, when that country
was young. He was a farmer and an Indian
fighter in the Black Hawk wars, a Democrat in
politics, and a Methodist. There were five chil-
dren in the family, the subject of this sketch
being the only one now living.
Mr. Braziel came to Kansas with his father
in 1857 and settled in the Osage Xation, where
they farmed and ran cattle. In 1868 he went
to Texas and worked on the trail and the Texas
range as a cowboy. In 1880 he came to west-
ern Nebraska — what is now a half-dozen
counties being then all Cheyenne county — and
in 1884 he took a homestead east of where the
town of Haig now stands. He proved up on
his homestead and bought several different
tracts of land until twenty-two years ago when
he came to his present farn: where he now
owns 420 acres of irrigated land, well im-
proved. He has followed farming and stock-
raising and has been very successful.
In 1888 he was married to Ida Rayburn, a
native of Illinois, daughter of Thomas Ray-
burn who homesteaded in 1886 in what is now
Castle Rock precinct of ScottsblufT county.
They have three children, namely:
Robert, now in South Omaha, iiaving lately
returned from service with the American army
in France, being with the Ninth \'eterinary
Corps overseas for eleven and one-half months.
Thomas A., who is now at home after a ser-
vice of twenty-two months with the colors. He
served on the front line in France fourteen
months with the 148th Field Artillery and
116th Ammunition Train.
George, the youngest son, is at home.
^Ir. Braziel has been a leader in the life of
the county since it was organized. He has held
the otTice of county commissioner, and is a
member of the board of directors of the irriga-
tion district in which his land is situated. He
is an independent voter and belongs to the Ma-
sonic order. Mrs. Braziel is a member of the
Methodist church.
No man in the North Platte valley stands
higher than Perry Braziel as an independent
and progressive citizen and a man of integrity
and honor. He has prospered in this world's
goods and in the opinion of his fellow man.
He has raised a family that is a credit to him
and has a right to be well satisfied with the
record tliat he has made.
HORACE C. AMOS, who is one of Kim-
ball's representative business men and for a
number of years identified with the Citizens
State Bank, is not a native of Nebraska, but
has spent the greater part of his life in this
state. He was born in 1877, at Racine, Wis-
consin. His parents were Arthur and Julia
(McCumber) Amos, both of whom died at
Kimball, his father having been a banker and
stockman.
Horace C. Amos was nine years old when
his parents moved to Kearney. Nebraska,
where they remained two years and then came
to Kimball. Here Mr. Amos attended the
public schools and completed the tenth grade
studies, then entered the Kearney Military
academy and remained one year. He then
became interested in the stock business on
his own account and continued in that line
for twenty-one years, when he was elected
county clerk. After serving in that office with
the utmost efficiency for three years, Mr.
Amos resigned in order to give his attention
to the affairs of the Citizens State Bank of
Kimball. In the meanwhile he proved up on
a homestead in Kimball county which he sold
at a later date.
In 1905 Mr. Amos was united in marriage
to Miss Ema Tracy, who was born at Pine
Bluff, Laramie county, Wyoming, and they
have two daughters: Marjorie and Marian,
aged respectively twelve and seven years, both
of whom are attending school at Kimball. Mr.
Amos and family belong to the Episcopal
church. He belongs to the fraternal order
of Knights of Pythias, and in that connection
as in every other, is held in the highest esteem.
ORLEY D. PICKETT, who is an enter-
prising business man of Bushnell, Nebraska,
where, in partnership with his brother Roy,
he conducts a cream and produce station, was
born February 25, 1886, in Nemaha county,
Nebraska. His parents are Frederick and Ef-
fie (Dickerson) Pickett, who came to Kim-
Ijall county, March 3, 1907, and now reside
on a farm north of Kimball. Of their six chil-
dren Orley D. is the eldest, the others being
as follows: Bertha, who is the wife of Henry
Wright, a farmer and ranchman living north-
west of Kimball ; Clinton, who resides on his
154
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
ranch north of Kimball ; Ernest, in Bushnell ;
and Francis, who is a farmer south of Bush-
nell ; and Roy, who is associated with his eld-
est brother at Bushnell.
Orley D. Pickett spent his boyhood days
on the home farm and attended the public
schools until the opportunity came to engage
in fanning for himself. In the fall of 1913
he came to Bushnell and accepted a position
as clerk with Mr. Baker, a leading business
man, and remained with this employer until
September 4, 1915. when he purchased the
business, and his prospects seemed so bright
that he put in a stock representing the invest-
ment of $16,000. War clouds quickly gather-
ed as time went on, America became involved
in the great struggle and when the govern-
ment found it necessary to issue calls for sol-
diers, Mr. Pickett and his brother Roy found
themselves among those selected. With only
four days' notice, Mr. Pickett sold out his
business and prepared to answer the call, his
brother Roy having made arrangements to
leave Kimball for camp at El Paso, Texas,
on the day the armistice was signed.
In 1911 Mr. Pickett was married to Miss
Bertha Bower, who is a daughter of Franklin
and Helen (Gross) Bower. Mrs. Pickett has
one sister. Iva Maud, who is the wife of F.
E. Miller, a stockman and farmer near Dela-
ware, Ohio. The father of Mrs. Pickett still
lives in Ohio, but her mother passed away
August 24, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Pickett at-
tend the Presbyterian church. He is promi-
nent in public afi'airs at Bushnell and has been
a member of the city council since incorpora-
tion.
PHILIP NELSON, who is a well known
and respected resident of Kimball county,
where he has successfully carried on several
business enterprises, was born on Chellon Is-
land, between Denmark and Norway, and in
1886 accompanied his parents to the United
States. Their names were Julius and Sophia
Nelson, honest, hard-working people, who
were very highly thought of in the neighbor-
hood of Dix, where they first located. They
homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and
also took a tree claim, proved up on their land,
and the father died there in 1913. The mother
then went to Blair and died in the home of
a daughter, in 1917. They had nine children,
five sons and four daughters as follows : Jo-
hanna, who died in 1903 : Peter, who liveson
his fruit farm in California; Christina, who
was the wife of Melvin Tracy of Butte, Mon-
tana, died April, 1920; Hans, who lives in
California ; Bina, who is the wife of John
Hanson, of Council Bluffs, Iowa ; Jack, who
lives on a ranch near Dix, Nebraska ; Philip,
who is the youngest son ; and Margaret, who is
the wife of Ole Anderson, of Blair, Nebraska.
Philip Nelson's boyhood days were spent
in going to school, and herding cattle for his
father and other ranchmen. He had ambition,
however, to be a business man in another line,
and with this end in view went to Potter and
engaged as a clerk in a general store. In 1910,
in partnership with his brother Peter, he
bought the lumber yard at Potter and operated
it for two years, when he purchased the gen-
eral store of C. E. Birt, thereby acquiring a
stock of merchandise valued at $2,100. He
continued in the mercantile business until
1919, selling his store at that time after a very
satisfactory business season, his stock being
valued at $15,000. In the meanwhile he had
bought a half section of land in Kimball county
which he rents out. the products of his farm
and ranch being mainly grain and horses. Mr,
Nelson is looking out for another investment,
as he is too active to think yet of retiring from
the business field. In 1915 he married Chris-
tina Peterson and they have two children,
Louis and Ruth. Mr. Nelson is a fine example
of what determination will do, for through it
he has overcome many difficulties, has made
an honorable business name for himself and
has personal friends everywhere. He belongs
to the Lutheran church.
ERNEST EUGENE CODING. — Al-
though aspiring to no position of leadership in
advancing the welfare of development of the
growing little city of Dix, the successful activ-
ities of E. E. Coding have brought him to
public attention. Since locating here he has
been active, interested and useful in many
ways.
E. E. Coding was born in Pawnee county,
Nebraska, April 14, 1879. His parents were
Rufus H. and Jessie F. Coding, who came to
Nebraska in 1877, the year of their marriage,
andRufus H. Coding bought a quarter sec-
tion of land near Pawnee, on which the family
lived for five years, Mr. Coding engaging in
farming and raising stock. He then removed
with his family to Lincoln county. South Da-
kota, remaining there until 1907 and then mov-
ing to Morrill county, Nebraska. In 1917 the
parents of Ernest E. Coding sold their Mor-
rill county interests and went to California
and now ' reside retired at Harper in that
state. Of their family of six children, Ernest
E. was the first born, the others being as fol-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
155
lows : \\'illiam M., who is a prominent citi-
zen of Cheyenne county, where he is a mem-
ber of the board of county commissioners ;
Bertha E., who is the wife of Mark Myers;
Edith, who died at the age of five years ;
Clara R., who is the wife of Dr. Dayton Tur-
ney, of Los Angeles, California ; and Flora,
who is the wife of James Davison, who did
own an extensive cattle ranch near Dalton,
Nebraska, but now resides in Colorado. The
parents are members of the Baptist church.
E. E. Coding attended school in Lincoln
and Turner counties. South Dakota, then en-
tered the South Dakota State University,
where he spent four years, then entered the
United States army, serving through a first
enlistment in Company A, First South Dakota
volunteer infantry. He re-enlisted in Com-
pany I, Thirty-seventh United States volunteer
infantry and with this unit went to the Philip-
pine Islands, where he served almost three
years, being promoted first sergeant of Com-
pany I. He was honorably discharged at San
Francisco, in 1901. Mr. Coding has a fine
record as a soldier in the Spanish-American
War. With his contingent he reached the
Philippines on August 24, 1898, just eleven
days after the battle of Manila. After his
safe return to the United States and his dis-
charge from the service he had honored, he
took up a homestead in Charles Mix county,
South Dakota, on which he proved up. Af-
ter selling his homestead at a profit, he taught
school in Charles Mix county for the next
seven years, also being interested in ranching.
In 1909 he came to Kimball county, Nebraska,
taking up four hundred and eighty acres of
land under the Kinkaid act, located northwest
of Dix. He resided on that land until March,
1919, when he came to Dix and embarked in
the real estate business, made practical in-
vestments in the way of substantial business
enterprises here, and through newspaper con-
nection has been a valuable exploiter of the
interests of this place. He is interested in
the Dix Mercantile Company, in the erection
of a number of substantial business structures
and in the laying of fine cement pavements.
Mr. Coding still owns two sections of land
in Kimball county but has them under rental.
In 1909 Mr. Coding was united in marriage
to Miss Eva Parker, a daughter of Charles
and Ella Parker. The father of Mrs. Cod-
ing died in Kimball county in 1918. but the
mother survives and lives two miles we5t
of Dix. The Parkers came to Kimball coun-
ty from South Dakota. Mrs. Coding is one
of a family of fourteen children, seven boys
and seven girls. Mr. and Mrs. Coding have
two daughters ; Mijdredy V. and Olive J.,
aged respectively eight and three years. Mr.
Coding and his family attend the Presbyte-
rian church. He belongs to the order of Odd
Fellows, having united with this organiza-
tion at Lake Andes, in Charles Mix county,
South Dakota.
L. FRANK PRICE, who has been so promi-
nently concerned in the development of the
incorporated town of Dix, Nebraska, that it
is difficult to mention any of its important
enterprises without reference to him, was a
man of business prominence in other sections
before coming to Kimball county.
L. Frank Price was born in Shelby county,
Illinois, October 20, 1877, and was. young
when the family moved to Decatur, where his
boyhood and youth were spent, his public
school advantages extending through the high
school course. He also completed a course
in Brown's Business college at Decatur, fol-
lowing which he went into railroad work and
continued in train service for five years. He
then became identified with the insurance busi-
ness, in the Peoria Life Insurance Company,
with which concern he remained for some years
as superintendent of the Decatur district. A
change of climate being deemed best for some
members of his family, Mr. Price moved to
Ogden Utah, and for two years was in the
employ of the Short Line Railroad in the Og-
den yards. Removing then to Denver, he
shortly afterward homesteaded in Weld coun-
ty, Colorado, and proved up before moving to
Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he re-entered rail-
road seri'ice, for two years afterward being
with the Northern Pacific system.
Mr. Price, however, had not entirely retired
from the insurance line, and finding prospects
encouraging in Wyoming became connected
with the state agency of the Central State
Life Insurance Company for the state of Wy-
oming, and continued as state agent until the
spring of 1917. when he took over Western
Nebraska for the same company, establishing
his headquarters at Kimball. His business
experience had given him excellent traming
along many lines and before he had lived long
in Kimball county his interest was aroused in
the little village of Dix, at that time an in-
significant country hamlet, with a population
of not over 26 individuals all told. Mr. Price,
however, was an experienced railroad man
and many times had he witnessed a section of
country developed almost over night by the
coming of the railroad. Hence he was liber-
al in his investments in land at Dix, although,
156
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
at that time, he found little encouragement
among the old settlers here, even such well
informed men as the Gundersons, Phillip Nel-
son and E. J. Horrum. Mr. Price was not dis-
couraged however and soon, through his vi-
talizing energj- had wonderful development
take place, culminating in the incorporation of
the town of Dix on September 4, 1918. He has
continued active in every business and public-
spirited enterprise, in many of these being
associated with Mr. Goding, the firm of God-
ing & Price, carrying on a large real estate
business, being founders of the Dix Tribune,
which issued the first newspaper here on May
12, 1919, foremost in other matters of busi-
ness. During the time Mr. Price was chair-
man of the town board about twelve thou-
sand feet of cement walks were laid. He is
secretary of the school board of Dix and it is
no secret that largely through his efforts the
township high school was accorded Dix in-
stead of Kimball. The laying of the corner
stone of that handsome modern structure was.
a memorable event in the town, the exercises
being under the auspices of the Masonic fra-
ternity, the Grand Master of the state laying
the stone.
Mr. Price was united in marriage to Miss
Alice J. Grififin, who was born in De Witt
county, Illinois, a daughter of B. C. and Judy
(O'Brien) Griffin, natives of Ireland, who
came when young to the United States with
their parents. Mrs. Price has four brothers
and two sisters. Her father died in 1916, but
her mother survives and lives in Illinois. Mr.
Price's mother, Mrs. Lodema Price, makes her
home with her son, they two being the only re-
maining members of that family. Mr. and
Mrs. Price have one daughter.
_ HANS GUNDERSON, who has the dis-
tinction of having been the original purchaser
of the town site of Dix, has always been a
man of discretion and foresight, and the pres-
ent flourishing town owes much to his energy
and practical enterprise. He is one of a group
of earnest, public-spirited men, whose united
eiiforts have brought about a wonderful de-
gree of progress in a comparatively short
space of time.
Hans Gunderson was born in Norway, Au-
gust 12. 1866, came to the United States in
1873 with his parents and three brothers. The
family lived in Omaha for fifteen years, dur-
ing which time two more sons were added to
the family. Of them all, Hans was the sec-
ond born. He was twenty-two years old when
he came to Kimball county and took a home-
stead, later selling it and taking a Kinkaid
claim. Aside from his large holdings at Dix,
Mr. Gunderson owns two hundred acres
forty acres under water, of land situated three
miles north, one and three-quarter section four
miles south of Dix, and rented to good ten-
ants. He has a $30,000 investment at Dix.
When Mr. Gunderson came here first he as-
sociated himself with other enterprising men
and his interest has been continuous. The first
building he erected was a blacksmith shop,
then a town hall, a restaurant building, two
small houses, a carpenter shop and his own
comfortable residence. His activities at pres-
ent include the erection of two brick build-
ings on Maple street, in which the post office
wil be located, also the Central telephone and
city offices.
Mr. Gunderson was married to Miss Belle
Snyder, November 16, 1891, at Harrisburg,
Banner county, Nebraska, who was born in
Iowa. They have four children : Aye, Effie,
Mervin and Claria.
Mr. Gunderson has always been progressive
in his ideas. He owned the first threshing ma-
chine in Kimball county and for years did all
the threshing in Kimball and Banner counties,
even as far as Bridgeport. This machine was
a J. I. Case horse-power rig, 12 horses being
used for power. He belongs to the Knights
of Pythias lodge at Kimball, and assisted in
the organization of the camp of Modem
Woodmen at Dix, which now has a member-
ship of seventy-five individuals. Few men
in this and adjoining counties are better known
than Hans Gunderson.
FRANK E. CAMPBELL, who is one of
the enterprising business men of Dix, Ne-
braska, is a native of Illinois but has been a
resident of Nebraska during the greater part
of his life. He was born March 2, 1872. and is
a son of most worthy parents. John and Cath-
erine Campbell.
The parents of Mr. Campbell were born
in Ireland and both came to the United States
when young, and were married in the city
of New York. They located afterward in Illi-
nois and Frank E. was born while his father
was a farmer there, one of a family of five
daughters and four sons, all of whom lived to
maturity. In 1884 the Campbell family came
to Nebraska, first settling four miles east of
Fairfield, but later moving' to that part of
Cheyenne county that is now included in Kim-
ball. The father homesteaded in the north-
east corner of Kimball county, in 1886, secur-
ing one hundred and sixty acres and later a
timber claim and proved up on his land. He
died there December 5, 1893, after which the
■1
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• *
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
157
mother moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where
her death occurred in 1908.
Frank E. Campbell had country school ad-
vantages in Kimball county, but much of his
time in boyhood was given to herding cattle.
Later he homesteaded in Lawrence Forks Val-
ley, in Banner county, lived on his land for
five years and proved up, residing for about
eight years in that county. In 1894 he sold his
ranch to his brother-in-law, J. E. Bevington.
After leaving the ranch Mr. Campbell went
to Potter, where he started a billiard room and
soft drink establishment, conducting this busi-
ness there until March, 1918. when he came
to Dix. Here he went into the business on a
larger scale and now has well equipped billiard
parlors, which are well patronized by lovers
of this form of pleasant exercise, and he also
conducts a confectionery and soft drink busi-
ness.
Mr. Campbell was reared in the Roman
Catholic faith and has always been sincere in
his church relations. He has never married.
Not particularly active in a political way,
nevertheless Mr. Campbell is a good citizen
and as a "booster" has done much of Dix,
being ever ready to co-operate with other en-
terprising citizens in movements for the gen-
eral welfare. Mr. Campbell is a member of
the order of Modern Woodmen at Dix.
WILLIAM L. WALLACE, one of the
early settlers of the North Platte valley, was
born in Marshall countv, Indiana. April 8,
1867, the son of M. F. and Nellie ( A. la ) Wal-
lace. There were eleven children in the family,
of whom six are livinng, namely : Frank, of
Scottsbluff, Nebraska ; Etta, of Hastings ; Ed-
ward, living in California ; John, of Alliance,
Nebraska ; Julius, of Hastings, Nebraska : and
the subject of this sketch. The family moved
to Hastings, Nebraska, in the spring of 1873,
and there the father took a homestead and fol-
lowed general farming. Both the father and
mother are still living on the old home place
near Hastings.
Mr. Wallace received his education in Hast-
ings, and after completing his schooling he
farmed for a year at that place, then came
west in 1886 and homesteaded on Snake creek
in 1888. He followed the stock business for a
number of years, moving his family to Scotts-
bluff after it was started. In the cattle busi-
ness he met with excellent success, and a few
years ago he bought the Henry State Bank, at
Henry, Nebraska, and now devotes his atten-
tion to the banking business. With a capital of
$10,000.00, this institution has deposits of
$125,000.00 and a surplus of $2,000.00, and
Mr. Wallace is on the fair road in the banking
business to repeat his success in the stock busi-
ness.
He was married in October, 1889, to Nellie
Gaddis. a native of Indiana, and their union
has been blessed with eight children, namely:
Florence, now Mrs. J. C. Williams, of Henry,
Nebraska., where Mr. Williams is in the drug
business ; Willo, now Mrs. Arthur Selzer, of
Scottsblulif ; Bessie, who is employed in her
father's bank ; Dorothy, Wilbur, Shirley, Neal,
and Helen, all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are attendants of the
M. E. church. Mr. Wallace is an independent
Democrat in politics and a member of the
A. O. U. W. He has always lieen recognized
as an enterprising; and JKinorable man, taking
an active p;irt in public affairs and wielding the
influence that goes with prominence and high
standing in the community.
CHARLES L. BOGLE, who owns and con-
ducts the leading general mercantile business
at Bushnell, was born in Gosper county, Ne-
braska, May 4, 1889, a son of J. W. Bogle, for
many years one of Kimball county's most re-
spected citizens.
Charles L. Bogle attended the country
schools near his father's ranch in boyhood,
later taking a business course in a commercial
college at Grand Island. In 1908 he came to
Bushnell and went into the mercantile business
with his father, that association lasting until
1913, when, in partnership with his brother-
in-law, he bought the elder Bogle interest. In
1914 he bought his partner's interest and since
then has been sole proprietor. Mr. Bogle car-
ries a stock worth $20,000, consisting of gen-
eral merchandise, additional features being a
meat market and confectionery store. Being
energetic and a good business man. Mr. Bogle
has continued the expansion of his enterprise
and is doing a large and profitable business.
In 1912 Mr. Bogle was united in marriage to
Miss Flora Snyder, and they have three chil-
dren: Charles L.," Dora Mildred and John V.
Mrs. Bogle is a daughter of James M. and
Elizabeth (Shanks) Snyder, who now live
comfortably retired in Furnas county, Ne-
braska. The father of Mr. Bogle was bom
near Columbus, Ohio, in 1842 and served as
a soldier in the Civil War as a member of the
Forty-fourth Indiana volunteer infantry. His
venerable mother still survives, residing at
Columbia, Indiana, in her ninety-ninth year.
The mother of Mrs. Bogle was born in 1850
in Whitley county, Indiana, and her mother
was a second cousin of Abraham Lincoln,
through the Shanks connection. Mr. and Mrs.
158
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Snyder had a family of four daughters and
two sons, namely : Rosa, who is the wife of
Frank Bogle, of Bushnell, Nebraska; Inez,
who is the wife of Archie Deen, of Bushnell;
Dora, who is the wife of Walter Rogers, a
homesteader in Wyoming; Flora, who is Mrs.
Charles L. Bogle, of Bushnell ; Roy, who is a
farmer ; and Clarence, a returned overseas sol-
dier of the great war. He received his military
training at Camp Cody before sailing for
France, where he served bravely for sixty-two
days on the front line. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder
are members of the Christian church at Edi-
son, Nebraska. Mr. Bogle has never found
time to be very active in politics but he is a
good citizen and highly esteemed.
EMORY C. HOWE, who is a prosperous
business man of Bushnell, owes his success in
life to natural ability and also to his faculty
of making and keeping friends. He was
born August 2, 1883, in Nemaha county, Ne-
braska, a son of Seymour and Ellen Howe.
The Howe family has been so highly regarded
in that section, that one of the "flourishing
towns of Nemaha county bears the name of
Howe.
The father of Emory C. Howe was born in
the state of New York and the mother in Illi-
nois. Both came to Nebraska when young
and were married in Nemaha county. The
following children were born to them : Adelia,
who is the wife of C. R. Russell, a farmer
and ranchman in Nemaha county ; Charles,
who follows the carpenter trade in that coun-
ty ; Eugene, who is in the real estate business
at Weatherf ord, Oklahoma ; Ambrose, who is
a traveling salesman with home at Council
BluiTs, Iowa ; and Emory C, who was edu-
cated and lived in Nemaha county until De-
cember, 1914, at which time he came to Bush-
nell. Here Mr. Howe went into the automo-
bile business handling Buick cars, which has
become a growing concern. He is now erect-
ing a first class modern garage of brick con-
struction, two stories high, with many square
feet of floor space and fine display room for
the Buick cars, of which he is sole agent. In
addition to his other responsibilities, Mr.
Howe is deputy sherifif.
On March 12, 1907, Mr. Howe was united
in marriage to Miss Geneva West, a daughter
of Jacob and Alice West, who came from
Missouri to Nebraska in 1900 and now re-
side at Salem.
WOODFORD G. JONES, who now lives
in comfortable retirement at Bushnell, came
to Nebraska thirty-five years ago. During
early years in the state, Mr. and Mrs. Jones
saw much hardship and they had some losses
which necessitated hard work and economy,
but early conditions passed away and they
have lived to enjoy the fruits of their industr>\
Woodford G. Jones was born at Centerville,
Iowa, April 28, 1857, a son of Woodford and
Louisa Jones. Attending school near the home
farm in boyhood, Woodford G. Jones took
charge when his father died and operated the
farm for his mother and sister as long as he
remained in Iowa. In 1884 he came to Ne-
braska and homesteaded eight miles south of
Dix, in Kimball county. There was but a poor
shelter on the place and when a blizzard that
lasted three days set in following their arrival,
they had to take advantage of every expedient
to keep warm, all remaining in bed until the
snow was so deep there that Mr. Jones had
to shovel it off. Happily they had enough
beans and corn dodgers to keep them from be-
ing hungry and in that way were more for-
tunate than many of their pioneer neighbors.
Mr. Jones had previously had a serious ex-
perience in one of the sudden blizzards that
sometimes unexpectedly swept over the coun-
try, during which he stumbled and was lost
in the snow through a whole night between
Dix and Kimball, finally being rescued and
cared for by Henry Warner. During that
winter Mr. Jones could not find work and in
the emergency he remained at home and took
care of the children while Mrs. Jones went to
Kimball, fifteen miles distant, where she
worked in the hotel for $4 a week, high wages
for that day, and walked the distance home
when she made a visit. Water had to be haul-
ed eight miles and when one of the team of
horses died, Air. Jones carried half of the neck
yoke and as much as possible eased the work
of the remaining horse.
At length Mr. Jones accepted an offer and
sold the homestead for $500, a property that
would bring $8,000 today. He moved then to
Custer county and bought lahd for $10 an
acre but through the lapse of a mortgage, they
lost that farm but later bought another in
Custer county, on which they lived for twenty-
five years. Mr. Jones then sold that prop-
erty and they came back to Kimball county
near Bushnell, but one year later Mr. Jones
sold that farm to his son-in-law, Ralph Ta^'-
lor, and came to Bushnell, where they are
people held in high esteem.
In 1875 Mr. Jones was united in marriage
to Miss Henrietta Rucker, who was born in
Iowa, and they became the parents of the
folowing children: Eva, who is the wife of
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
159
Ralph Taylor, a rancher in Kimball county ;
Woodford Robert, who married Charity Ham-
mond of Custer and now lives nine miles north
of Bushnell and has one and one-half sections
of land ; Maud, Mrs. Hammond, who is in
charge of the Central telephone office at Bush-
nell ; and May, Fay and Ray, triplets, the last
named being deceased. Both May and Fay
are married, the former being Mrs. Coons, and
the latter, Mrs. Stuckert. Mr. and Mrs. Jones
are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
JACOB PEDRETT, who is one of Kim-
ball's most highly esteemed citizens, is widely
known in the state and is one of Kimball coun-
ty's heavy land owners. The story of his life
since coming to America is exceedingly inter-
esting.
Jacob Pedrett was born in Kanton Graeu-
bunden, Switzerland, November 7, 1856, a son
of Ulrich and Fieda Pedrett. The father was
a farmer, cattle grower and dairyman, his milk
business being important and profitable. He
had a contract with a local hotel for eighty
gallons of milk a day and sometimes sold one
hundred and twenty gallons, probably when
the tourist trade was at its height. The father
died in 1887, having been an invalid for some
eighteen years previously. The mother of
Mr. Pedrett communicated the fact to her son
in America but before the latter received the
letter, she also had passed away, having sur-
vived the father only fourteen days. Their
family consisted of but one son, Jacob, and the
following daughters : Elizabeth, who died at
the age of twenty-two years ; Fieda who is
married, lives in the old home in Switzer-
land and has five children : Cristena, on
the old homestead ; Magdelenia. is the only one
who came to America, with four children, in
June, 1920, and is living on the Pedrett farm ;
and, Marie, who lived to the age of eighteen
years. All the children are well educated and
before Jacob Pedrett came to America, he
was proficient in the Italian and German lan-
guages.
In his own land Mr. Pedrett gave military
service according to the law. between the age
of twenty and thirty years, and he had reached
the latter age when he came to the United
States, on the ship Normandie, which landed
him safely in the harbor of New York. He
came across the country to Hastings, Nebras-
ka, where he found work as a cheesemaker,
having brought his diploma as to his efficiency
in this industry. For one summer he worked
in Webster county for his board, in the mean-
while using every effort to learn the English
language, but in the fall he returned to Hast-
ings. There he rented a dairy farm and went
into the business of making cheese. He op-
erated with thirty-six cows and his bargain
included one-half of the proceeds from his
factory, together with the stock increases. Mr.
Pedrett remained on that farm from 1887 to
1890, coming then to Kimball county, bringing
along ten cows and two horses. He home-
steaded in the same district in which he serv-
ed as a school director later on for twenty-
nine continuous years.
Here Mr. Pedrett resumed the making of
cheese, in 1891 he and his wife milking forty-
one cows, some of them being rented, the rent-
al being paid in cheese. He found this ar-
rangement profitable. He has always grown
some wheat but has given the most attention
to thoroughbred Hereford cattle, at times hav-
ing owned two hundred and seventy-five head
of registered stock and also has fed unregis-
tered, doing business under the firm name of
Pedrett & Clarke. At the present time he
owns two full sections of land and other
tracts, aggregating about sixteen thousand
acres, general farming being carried on an ex-
tensive scale.
On March 31, 1887, Mr. Pedrett was united
in marriage to Miss Marie Louisa Grothaus,
a daughter of William and Katherine Gro-
thaus, who came to the United States and to
Hastings, Nebraska, in 1885, from Westphalia,
Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Pedrett the fol-
lowing children were bom : Ulrich, who was
born December 28, 1887, who was in military
training at Camp Funston, during the great
war, was honorably discharged, as quarter-
master sergeant ; Fieda, who is the wife of
Clyde Taylor, is a graduate of the Kimball
county high school, lives on the farm in Kim-
ball county and has three children, Harry,
Ruth and James ; Louisa, who is a student
in the Nebraska State University, has been
graduated in the department of typewriting
and shorthand and taught in the high school at
Superior, Nebraska ; Willis, who died at the
age if si-x years ; and Harry who is a graduate,
like his eldest brother, of the high school and
the Agricultural college at Lincoln. Mr. Ped-
rett and his family are members of the Pres-
byterian church. He has always been active
in public affairs and has served in many public
capacities, holding such offices as road over-
seer and county commissioner. He has assisted
in the building of three school structures, the
latest erected in his school district being a
modern two-room building, two teachers be-
ing employed and sixty-five children attending.
160
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Mr. Pedrett is president of the State Potato
Growers Improvement Association, and a di-
rector of Nebraska State Farm Bureau asso-
ciation, and is treasurer of the local farm bur-
eau, and also president of the Beet Growers
association of Kimball county.
EMORY HORRUM, whose interests cover
farming, stock-raising, banking and other lines
of business, is one of Kimball county's most
prominent young men of aflfairs. He is a na-
tive of Nebraska, born June 25, 1886, at Dun-
bar, where his parents now live retired. He is
a son of Lyman T. and Claudia Horrum, and
he has one sister, Delia May, who is the wife
of Montgomery Lowery, a substantial farmer
near Dunbar.
After completing the high school course at
Dunbar, Mr. Hornmi went to Lincoln and
completed a commercial course in a business
college there. It was in Februar>', 1915, that
he came to Kimball county, where he has
made heavy investments in land, aggregating
over eleven thousand acres. This land is culti-
vated in a modern way, farm tractors being
made use of together with improved machin-
ery of all kinds. Mr. Horrum is much inter-
ested in raising thoroughbred Hereford cat-
tle. He has been largely concerned in the de-
velopment and improvement of Dix. owning
one hundred acres in town lots, the Horrum
addition to Dix, and has built and sold some
handsome residences in this part of the rapidly
growing town.
Mr. Horrum was one of the organizers of
the Fanners State Bank of Dix, of which he
is vice president. He is associated in this finan-
cial enterprise with Gus Linn, George Vogler
and Philip Nelson. The original capital was
$10,000, which has been increased to $25,000.
Mr. Horrum, was president of the Dix Mer-
cantile Company, which occupies a handsome
brick building of modern construction, and
plans are under way for the carrying of one
of the largest stocks of general merchandise in
this section of the state.
On October 8, 1910, Mr. Horrum was unit-
ed in marriage to Miss Esther Tell, who is
a daughter of Francis and Catherine Tell,
well known retired residents of Omaha. Mr.
and Mrs. Horrum have had two children,
both of whom passed away in their infancy.
The Presbyterian church holds their member-
ship. Mr. Horrum is a Thirty-second degree
Mason.
JULIUS J. JOHNSON, who is one of the
large farmers and stockraisers of Kimball
county and one of the representative, solid
citizens, was born in the province of Halland,
Sweden, a son of Jons Larson and Johanna
Johnson, who died on their farm in Sweden,
the former in 1902 and the latter in 1912.
Julius J. Johnson was born May 21, 1859,
grew up on the home farm in Sweden, in the
meantime attending school as opportunity of-
fered. A thoughtful, sensible young man, by
the time he was twenty-two years old, he had
made up his mind to emigrate to America, in
which country, as he learned from others, there
were many chances for a young man with-
out any capital but his industry, to acquire
financial independence. When he landed in
the United States he had $12 in his pocket,
which paid his way from New York City to
southern Illinois, where he found work with
a railroad company, going from there to Sheri-
dan, Michigan, fifteen miles south of Big
Rapids. Afterward for three years he worked
in the railroad shops in Chicago, at the end
of that time coming to Nebraska. He home-
steaded in Kimball county on a part of the
same ranch that he now owns, proved up, kept
on adding one tract of land after another until
he now owns over seventeen hundred acres.
He runs about one hundred head of cattle, all
good grade Herefords, and has two hundred
acres under the plow. Mr. Johnson has every
reason to feel satisfied with his determination
made so many years ago, to become a resident
and citizen of the United States.
In 1889 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss
Ida C. Strandberg, a daughter of Jonas and
Christina Strandberg, who came from Sweden
to the United States in 1885 and homesteaded
in Nebraska. The father of Mrs. Johnson
died in 1900 and the mother in 1901. Five
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. John-
son, namely; Alma E., who is a student in the
high school at Dix; Hilda M., who is also a
high school student; Carl A., who has reached
the high school also ; and Leonard J. and Ver-
ner O., who are in the grade schools. Mr.
Johnson and family are members of the First
Lutheran church at Potter. He has many
times been honored by election to public office
by his fellow citizens. At one time, while
vvorking at Dix, he served as postmaster. For
two terms he served as township assessor, for
several terms was road overseer, and at pres-
ent is treasurer of the school board. In every
office he has proved efficient and trustworthy.
WHITCOMB BROTHERS. — There are
not many people in Kimball county who have
not heard of the Whitcomb Brothers, exten-
sive wheat farmers, who operate so success-
fully their extensive property entirely by
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
161
means of tractors and other modern machin-
ery. The firm is composed of two brothers,
Edwin and James Whitcomb, born in lUi-
nois and sons of Edwin and Mary (Champlin)
Whitcomb.
The father of the Whicomb brothers was
born in Virginia and the mother at Chatham,
New^ York.. After their marriage they Hved in
Illinois but later moved to Rochester, Minne-
sota, which town he assisted in building, as
he made all the brick used in general construc-
tion. During his last illness he was attended
by Dr. Mayo, the father of the celebrated sur-
geons at Rochester. After Mr. W'hitcomb's
death, his widow returned to Illinois, with her
three sons, James, Herbert and Edwin, hav-
ing lost a little daughter at the age of three
years. The mother looked carefully after the
rearing and educating of her sons, continu-
ing her residence in Illinois until 1909, in
which year her death occurred.
In 1910 James and Edwin Whitcomb came
to Nebraska, locating at Columbus, after a
stay there entering into a business agreement
whereby they traded their Illinois property for
a section of land in Kimball county, assuming
a mortgage of $4,000. Nothing much was
done until in 1914, when Edwin Whitcomb
came to the acquired property, an unbroken
tract of miles of prairie as far as the
eye could reach. Mr. Whitcomb soon
proved how practical he was in business
aiifairs. At Denver he had bought a tent
house and in that he and his brother
lived until, later on, they had a bungalow
erected, equipped with electric lights and a hot
water system, the first residence of its kind
in the county. Near the bungalow soon ap-
peared other structures, including a garage
and a work shop.
In the first year the Whitcombs put out two
hundred acres in wheat, reaping 7,200 bushels,
and every succeeding year they have increased
their wheat acreage, and, carrying crop in-
surance, hail storms and early crop damages
have not materially affected them. In the
htird year of their experiment, they put four
hundred acres in wheat, and sold their 10,000
resulting bushels for from $1.90 to $1.95 a
bushel, in the market at Dix. It is their cus-
tom to summer fallow all their wheat land for
a time, merely dragging it to keep it clear of
weeds. On the whole estate they have no
mules or work horses, all the work being done
by tractors and Duplex trucks, the latter carry-
ing the wheat to market. When Edwin Whit-
comb came here he formulated plans that have
been carefully carried out and successfully
expanded. He invested $3,000 in modern ma-
chinery and equipments, these including the
tractors and trucks, drills, disc drags and
three steel grain houses, each one having a
1,000-bushel capacity. Since coming here the
brothers have sold several tracts of land but
none of the original purchase. They have clear-
ly demonstrated what can be expected from
Nebraska soil in Kimball county when in-
telligently cultivated.
JOHN E. FRENCH. — Practical industry,
wisely and vigorously applied, seldom fails of
attaining success, and the career of John
French, now one of the leading farmers of the
Henry district, is but another proof of this
statement as he is a worthy representative of
the younger generation of agriculturists who
have played such a constructive part in the de-
velopment of the valley and demonstrated past
all discussion that irrigation of the rich allu-
vium of the valley brings golden returns to the
men who are devoting their energies and time
to intensive farm industries.
Air. French was born in Clay county, Illi-
nois, in 1876, being the son of \\'illiam and
Hettie (Etchison) French, both born in In-
diana. William French was a farmer, residing
in Illinois until 1881, when he came to Ne-
braska to take advantage of the public lands
which were to be had for the taking in the west-
ern section of the state. He first located in
Dodge county, but five years later took up a
homestead in Cheyenne county early in the fall
of 1886. He proved up on the 160 acre tract
and after he had broken the land, erected suit-
able and pennanent farm buildings, as well as
a good house, became one of the substantial
and dependable men of the Panhandle; later he
disposed of his farm at an attractive figure.
Mr. French was a Republican in politics, and
though he never accepted public office, was one
of the most progressive men of the section and
took an active part in every movement for the
development of the county and the uplift of his
community. He was one of the first men to
realize what inestimable benefit water would be
to the valley and helped in building the first
irrigation ditch in his locality, now known as
theMitchell ditch. He lifted the first spade of
dirt on its construction work. Later he pro-
moted and built over a quarter of the well-
known Steamboat ditch that opened up a rich
district for intensive farming. The French
family were members of the Baptist church in
which the}- were active workers. He is now
dead. The mother lives at Minatare.
John French accompanied his parents from
Illinois when they came west and received his
162
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
educational advantages in the public schools of
this state, early learning to rely upon himself
as all boys who were reared in the Panhandle
during the pioneer days did. With his family
he suffered the hardships and privations inci-
dent upon settlement of a new region, and early
learned the practical side of farm industry as
carried on in this section and while a boy in
years, was able to conduct much of his father's
business, as he was the oldest of the family, the
other children being : Lorenzo, a ranchman of
Big Trail, Wyoming; Jessie, the wife of
Charles F. White, deceased, and she now lives
in Minatare; Edna, the wife of R. M. Woode,
a farmer of Wyoming, and two children who
died.
As soon as he was old enough John French
took up a claim in ^^'yoming, consisting of a
quarter section of land, where he engaged in
general farming and stock-raising, made per-
manent improvements on his land, and by his
industry, executive ability and hard work was
soon enjoying a good income. With increased
capital he decided to branch out as a landed
proprietor and invested his money in more land
from time to time until he now owns nearly a
thousand acres of fine, arable, valley property,
most of which is under ditch. ^Ir. French has
not devoted all his energies to one line but has
carried on varied farm industries along with
stock-raising, having good grades of animals.
He thoroughly believes, as did his father, in in-
tensified farming on irrigated land, as the best
proposition in farming and has ably demon-
strated his theories on section 16 in township
23-58. Early in his life he became associated
with his father in bu^i1l(•^^. first on the farm
and then in the contractu!;^ 1iu-.iih--s. when Wil-
liam French began constructmn work on some
of the most important irrigation projects in the
upper valley. Mr. French found that he could
easily carry on both branches of his business,
and while he has become one of the largest
landholders near Henry and a representative
farmer of the section, he stands high among the
business men and is rated one of the solid,
reputable men of the financial circles of Scotts-
bluff county. Mr. French still owns the first
land he homesteaded here over twenty years
ago, to which he has so materially added with
the passing years. He recalls vividly the trials
and early struggles which his parents and the
other pioneers here encountered in contending
for victory over the untried forces of a new
land, and, notwithstanding the anxiety and
arduous toil imposed, he looks back to those
days as the happiest of his life.
In 1898 Mr. French married ]^Iiss Lowa
Dickenson, the daughter of S. S. Dickenson, of
whom a record appears elsewhere in this his-
tory. Six children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. French, three of whom survive: Doris,
\\'arren, and Dorothy, ail of whom are still at
home.
Mr. French is independent in his political
views, voting for the man he believes best qual-
ified for office ; his fraternal associations are
with the Modern Woodmen and the ^^''oodmen
of the World.
GEORGE H. TURNBULL, a representa-
tive citizen of Kimball county, where his well
improved stock and grain farm is located, was
born in Page county, Iowa, January 9, 1880.
He is one of a family of eight sons
and eight daughters born to Robert A.
and Rebecca Turnbull, the latter of whom
died in 1907. They were natives of Illi-
nois, coming to Iowa, following their mar-
riage, which took place after the father's
honorable discharge from the Federal army.
He served through the Civil War for
three and a half years, in the Nineteenth
IlUnois volunteer mfantry. participating in
such important battles as Cickamaugua, Look-
out Mountain and Stone Ridge. When he
and wife went to Iowa they lived at first near
Coin, in Page county, Clarinda is the county
seat, much of the county being little settled.
The father engaged in farming in Page coun-
ty during his active years and is now de-
ceased, dying February 8, 1920.
George H. Turnbull was reared on his fath-
er's farm and attended the public schools in
Page county. In 1908 he came to Kimball
county, Nebraska, and homesteaded where he
now lives, adding to his original purchase un-
til he had one and a quarter sections, later
selling three-quarters of a section to great
advantage. He has placed excellent improve-
ments on his land, pays close attention to
his business, thrift and good management be-
ing in evidence on ever}' hand.
At Pawnee City, Nebraska, Mr. Turnbull
was married to Miss Frances Lillian Correll,
whose parents were Ohio people. Mr. and
Mrs. Turnbull have an adopted son, W^illiam
Gale, and a daughter, Erthel. He is a stock-
holder in the Farmers Elevator at Dix and
the Farmers Union store at the same place.
He has never been particularly active in poli-
.ics, has never desired public office, but he i(
one of the reliable, upstanding men of his
community, whose good citizenship has never
been questioned. He belongs to the order of
Odd Fellows at Sidney and both he and wife
attend the Presbyterian church. The mother
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
163
of Mrs. Turnbull was born in York state and
the father in New Jersey. They were the par-
ents of eleven children, six boys and five girls.
JOHN W. ROBINSON, who for a number
of years was a resident of Kimball county,
was considered an able business man and
good farmer and was highly esteemed for his
sterling personal character. Mr. Robinson
was born at Granville, in Putnam county, Illi-
nois, in 1862, and died on his large estate in
Kimball county, July 26, 1919.
Mr. Robinson had educational advantages
in Illinois. From there, in early manhood, he
went to Iowa, spent one year there as a farmer,
then went to Gates county, Nebraska, where
he rented land, moving from there to Chappel,
in Deuel county, where he lived four and a
half years. In 1913 he bought a quarter sec-
tion of land there, for $38 an acre, which he
sold for $62 an acre and then came to Kimball
county, where he purchased two sections, which
land is still in the possession of his family.
At the time of his death Mr. Robinson had
one hundred and fifty acres under the plow
and sixty-five head of standard cattle. His
death was occasioned by an apoplectic stroke.
In 1901 at Blue Springs, Gates county, Ne-
braska, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage
to Nannie Murgatroyd, a daughter of John
and Elizabeth Murgatroyd, natives of Eng-
land. The father of Mrs. Robinson came to
the United Stjftes at the age of fourteen years,
and the mother was two years old when her
parents brought her across the Atlantic ocean.
Both families settled in Racine county, Wis-
consin. In the spring of 1867 the parents of
Mrs. Robinson drove in a covered wagon from
Wisconsin to Gates county, Nebraska, with
their one son and five daughters, and one son
and three daughters born to the father's first
marriage. The father died in Gates countv,
April 19, 1891, and the mother, June 9. 1903.
They were members of the Christian Science
church. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Robinson, namely : Robartus S., who was
born June 15, 1902 ; and Edward Lee, who was
born February 13, 1904. They are fine young
men and are very successfully carrying on the
farm industries their father started so well.
JOHN R. MANNING. — To Nebraska's
invigorating climate, one of Kimball county's
enterprising and successful young farmers is
indebted for restoration to health. He is Ar-
thur Manning, owner of a half section of
excellent land, a son of the late John R. Man-
ning, who for many years was connected with
large business houses in St. Louis and Chi-
cago.
John R. Manning was born and educated in
New Jersey. He came as far west as St.
Louis, Missouri, and in that city was united
in marriage to Miss Mary Ebling, in 1890, in
which city she was born, reared and educated.
Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Man-
ning, namely : Arthur, born June 20, 1892 ;
and John R., born July 18, 1897. For a num-
ber of years John R. Manning was manager of
the Famous Clothing Company, St. Louis af-
terward becoming a salesman for the Spicer
National Shirt Company of Chicago, and sub-
sequently was agent* for this large business
house in both Chicago and St. Louis. He was
widely know to the trade and was held in high
esteem, was a member of the order of Knights
of Pythias and belonged also to the Royal Ar-
canum. Mr. Manning's death occurred in
1906.
In 1904 Mr. Manning had consented on ac-
count of his son Arthur's delicate health,
that the youth should accompany R. R. Barnes
to Nebraska to prove what the climate might
do foi; him. His improvement was so marked
that in 1909 his mother and brother joined
him and the family has lived in Kimball coun-
ty ever since. After Arthur Manning had
bought the half section that is the homestead,
the former owner supplied lumber and Ar-
thur and John erected the farm buildings.
They have made improvements since then and
now have everything comfortable around
them. General farming and stockraising are
the industries carried on and the young men
have proved equal to all the responsibilities
thev have undertaken.
Arthur Manning was united in marriage to
Miss Lulu Leverne Straub, daughter of Dan-
iel and Phoebe Jane Straub, who came early
to Nebraska, settling first near Fairfield but
later moving to Kimball county. The father
of Mrs. Manning is living but her mother died
some twenty years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Man-
ning have two sons : Glen Winfield Manning,
who was born April 27, 1918; and Wayne
Daniel, born October 25, 1919. Mr. Manning
belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the
Farmers Union.
JOHN F. BOGLE, who is a prosperous
farmer and stockman of Kimball county, is
also a keen and successful business man and
is closely identified with many of the important
interests at Bushnell. Mr. Bogle was bom
March 3, 1878, in Worth county, Missouri, a
son of James W. Bogle, extended mention of
whom will be found in this work.
164
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASIL\
John F. Bogle was reared on his father's
farm and in boyhood alternated herding cattle
with attending school. He was well trained
in every agricultural industry and encouraged
in every manly endeavor. In 1907 he came to
Kimball county .-nd homesteaded under the
Kinkaid law six hundred and forty acres. sLx
miles north of Bushnell, proved up and then
sold advantageously. Mr. Bogle further dis-
played business judgment in buying a quar-
ter section north of Bushnell, a half section
one mile east of Lodgepole creek, and ten
acres adjoining' the town of Bushnell. which,
in the course of time will no doubt become a
part of this thriving town. Mr. Bogle is en-
gaged in general farming but gives a large
part of his attention to his fine Holstein cat-
tle and thoroughbred Poland China hogs, and
additionally is doing a profitable land busi-
ness.
In 1905 Mr. Bogle was married to Miss Rosa
May Snider, a member of one of the promi-
nent old pioneer families of the state, and they
have three children, namely ; James F.. who
is employed in the Farmers Union store at
Bushnell ; Merlyn Alva, a student in the Bush-
nell schools, who is preparing to enter a com-
mercial college at Grand Island ; and Ada May,
who resides at home. Mr. Bogle is a man of
high standing in his community and while
not unduly active in politics, has opinions on
public matters that he is not backward in mak-
ing known when occasion calls for such ac-
tion.
GEORGE A. ERNST, owner and proprie-
tor of a fine estate in Kimball county known as
the Pleasant View farm, has been a resident
of Nebraska for thirty-five years. He was
born near Hamilton, in Butler county, Ohio,
December 10, 1862, a son of Jacob and Eliza-
beth Ernst. They were both born in Bavaria,
Germany and from there came to the United
States in 1848, and after their marriage in
Butler county remained there for many years.
They were members of the Lutheran church.
George A. Ernst remained in Ohio until he
was twenty years old, attending school in
Miami county, south of Dayton, then went
to Illinois, and from there, five years later,
came to Nebraska in company with his broth-
er John, on January 30. 1886, settling near
Aurora in Hamilton county. In the spring of
1910 Mr. Ernst accepted a contract to break
one thousand acres of land in Kimball county,
for H. A. Clark of Columbus, and came with
his tractor to accomplish what was a rather
big undertaking. He was a pioneer in the sod-
breaking business here and continued in that
line for about three years. In the meanwhile
he had bought his present estate, a railroad
section, and to its cultivation and improvement
he has devoted much time and profitable ef-
fort. He has about three hundred and sixty
acres under cultivation, keeps some stock and
takes pride and pleasure in his fine orchard.
He set out seven hudred and fifty tree, some
of which he lost during a severe hail storm,
but his plum and cherry trees weathered it
well. In addition to having an abundance of
fruit for home use. he has had cherries to
sell. His experiment has proved that fruit
will do well in Kimball county if proper pre-
cautions are taken. Mr. Ernst has erected a
fine modern residence and his barns, out-build-
ings and fences are all substantial, the result
being that Pleasant View farm justifies its
name.
On December 22, 1887 Mr. Ernst was mar-
ried to Miss Anna M. Donner, a daughter of
Jacob and Veronica Doner, who came from
Illinois to Hamilton county, Nebraska, in the
spring of 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Ernst have had
four children, namely : Ezra J., who was born
April 25, 1893, is assisting his father and is
a very reliable young man ; Esther V., Mary
E. and Ruth E., all of whom have been afford-
ed educational advantages, Ezra J. being a
graduate of the Aurora high school in the
class of 1911 and the others from the Kim-
ball high school.
Mr. Ernst and his family belong to the
Christian Science church. He has never been
particularly active in politics, but in the inter-
est of law and order is careful when he casts
his vote, believing that the privilege of citi-
zenship carries with it a large amount of re-
sponsibility. Mr. Ernst has been quite promi-
nent in movements for advancing the welfare
of the farming community, is a member of the
Farmers Union, and is president of the Farm-
ers Co-operative Company at Kimball. At a
meeting of the board of directors Mr. Ernst
was put in as manager on February 12, 1920,
with the assistance of his daughter, Mary E.,
who had taken a course in state university
commercial work and they soon restored the
business in thq confidence of the public, and
from the time Mr. Ernst has taken charge,
the affairs of the company have been much
improved.
WOODFORD R. JONES, who is a large
land owner and prosperous grain farmer in
Kimball county, is a worthy representative
of an old American family of many genera-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
165
tions back, and he is justly proud to bear a
Christian name that has been honored by fath-
er, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Woodford R. Jones was born in Iowa, Janu-
ary 10, 1882, a son of Woodford and Etta
Jones, natives of Iowa, who came to Cheyenne
county in 1885, homesteaded, then sold and
bought a place near Dix, again selling seven
years later. They now live retired. Extend-
ed mention of the family will be found in this
work.
After a happy boyhood on the home farm
and a suiificient amount of school attendance
for practical purposes, Mr. Jones invested in
a section of land in Kimball county and is
paying much attention to developing a grain
farm, he has one and one-half sections. With
three hundred and fifty acres in wheat and
corn and with oats yielding ninety bushels to
the acre, it probably is only a matter of time
before he is one of the leading producers of
"the golden food of the world," the bread
that not only our own, but other lands are in
such dire need of. He is a careful, intelligent,
well infomied farmer and good business man.
In 1903, Mr. Jones was united in marriage
to Miss Charity Hammond, at Mason City,
in Custer county, Nebraska. The parents of
Mrs. Jones came from Harrison county, Indi-
ana, to Custer county, Nebraska, thirty-five
years ago. Mrs. Jones is one of a family of
twelve children. Four children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, namely: May,
Fredy, Grace and Woodford, the son being
the fifth in direct line of descent to bear the
family name. Mr. Jones has no political
aspirations but he is influential in business cir-
cles as a member of the Farmers Union. He
owns an interest in the Farmers Union store
at Bushnell and also in the Farmers Elevator
Company of the same place. The family at-
tend church services and have pleasant social
connections at Bushnell.
ROBERT M. DE LA MATTER. — Nearly
forty years have passed since Robert De La
Matter drove into Scottsblufl: county in true
pioneer style and settled on a homestead in
township 22-57, section 36. This section of
Nebraska at that time was mostly open prairie
covered with the curly buffalo grass and prairie
wild flowers ; habitations were few and far be-
tween and civilization was still in its primitive
form, so that today he belongs to that rapidly
thinning coterie of men who blazed the way for
the present great development of this favored
section, and a worthy pioneer he has proved
to be.
Mr. De La Matter was born in Illinois, July
29, 1852, being the son of Cyrus and Mary
Ann (Rowe) De La Matter, a history of whose
lives will be found in the biography of Judge
De La Matter, of Gering.
Robert was reared in his native state by at-
tending the common schools, living the life
common to most farmers' sons, as he assumed
many tasks around the home place, and thus
became a practical farmer. When his school
days were over he entered farming as an occu-
pation compatible with his tastes and a voca-
tion with which he already had an excellent
working knowledge. His business life pro-
gressed, but land in Illinois was high and as he
was foot free, he decided to come west and on
the high prairies take up enough land to make
agriculture a paying business. After consider-
ing various states west of the Mississippi where
homesteads were yet to be had from the gov-
ernment, Mr. De La Matter came to the Pan-
handle and he must have been endowed with a
far vision of what the future held for when he
located in Scottsbluff county in 1888, he filed on
a claim which has since come within the irrigat-
ed district of the valley. Soon the prairie sod
was broken, crops planted, a primitive bachelor
establishment in running order and buildings
erected for the stock and horses. Mr. De La
Matter was a good manager, he was young, not
afraid of hard work, and in the early days was
willing to turn his hand to any honest occupa-
tion that brought in a dollar and thus he was
able to weather the hard years of the early
nineties, when drought burned up his crops,
blizzards killed some of his stock, and the
grasshoppers took what was left, but he was
not discouraged as were so many of the pio-
neers and did not, like them return east, but
stuck it out, and his faith in the Panhandle has
been fully justified as is evidenced by the com-
fortable fortune which the family today enjoy.
With increased free capital from the sale of
farm products Mr. De La ]\Iatter invested in
other tracts of land adjacent to the homestead
and today is the proprietor of a landed estate
of 400 acres, all well improved with a part
under ditch, which makes a fine combination
for the general farm industries and stock-rais-
ing which he conducts. From first locating in
the county he has devoted much time to a good
grade of cattle and horses and specializes to a
considerable extent in breeding them. With
the passing years new and better farm build-
ings have been built on the place and a fine,
convenient, modern home erected which is one
of the most hospitable in the Morrill valley,
where the De La Matter family is regarded
with great esteem by the most recent settlers,
who look to this old-timer as an example of
166
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
what industry, plus pluck and the modern
methods he advocates and practices can accom-
plish in this favored farming community. The
home farm is one of the old school sections and
is one of the well known places for miles
around. It need not be stated that Mr. De La
;\Iatter has been a successful man and now that
life's shadows are beginning to lengthen from
the crimson west he can look back across the
years and feel his to have been a life of
achievement and it is this type of man to whom
posterity owes a great debt as he helped in
opening up what is today the very garden spot
of the country.
On ]\Iarch 1, 1890. occurred the marriage of
Mr. De La Matter to Miss Sophie Adair of
Illinois ; she died March 22, 1899. and he mar-
ried a second time in 1899. Mrs. Marv E.
Blackburn. Mr. De La I\Iatter is a Republican
in politics, advocates all movements for civic
and communal advancement, and is a citizen
who stands high in the Morrill vallev.
Mr. and Mrs. De La -Matter are members of
the M. E. church.
By former marriage he had two children:
Jesse, on a claim in Wyoming ; William, has a
claim in A\'yoming. He has just returned from
France where he saw service in the United
States army during the World War. He en-
listed September 22, 1917, and served until
June 21, 1919.
THOMAS L. BOGLE, who owns and op-
erates one of the big grain and stock farms of
Kmiball county, has developed this property
from its original state, and in the process pass-
ed through many hardships in earlier days.
These are not forgotten but they have been
overcome, and Mr. Bogle is now one of the
county's substantial men.
Thomas L. Bogle was born in Gosper coun-
ty, Nebraska, October 21, 1883, a son of
James Bogle, extended mention of whom will
be found in this work. Mr. Bogle obtained
his education in the country schools, and made
his first money by herding cattle. He was
thoroughly trained in farm work and has
never desired to enter into any other line of
business. In 1907 he came to his present
homestead, under the Kinkaid law being able
to take up all of section thirty-two, the great-
est hardship of living on the land at that time
being the necessity of hauling all water used a
distance of six miles. To this original home-
stead he kept adding land until he owned
twelve hundred acres, of which he later con-
sented to sell two hundred and forty acres,
when the transaction was very advantageous.
At at the present time he has five hundred
acres in wheat, oats and corn, his 1918 harvest
aggregating about two thousand bushels, the
1919 crop being considerably heavier. Mr.
Bogle has over three thousand bushels of
wheat this year and one hundred and seventy-
five acres of fine oats, that are the best in
this part of the county. He keeps quite a few
good cows for cream and home use. While
Mr. Bogle has not entirely eliminated horses
for farm work, a large part is now done with
farm tractors.
On February' 15, 1905, Mr. Bogle was united
in marriage to Miss Edith Hanes, who taught
school for five years before her marriage, and
is a daughter of Harvey and Sarah Hanes.
Mrs. Bogle has one brother, Ellsworth. Her
father was a wagonmaker by trade but the
family lived on a farm and the father died
near Des Moines, Iowa, in December, 1885.
The mother of Mrs. Bogle, who was bom in
1858, still survives. She has followed the
profession of teaching since girlhood and is
yet easily and satisfactorily going on with her
educational duties, and resides near Stockville.
She is a woman of culture, education and re-
finement. Mr. and Mrs. Bogle have had the
following children : Howard, Harold and Avis,
and three who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs.
Bogle attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
He is a member of the order of Modem
W'oodmen of Bushnell, and belongs to the
Farmers Union at Bushnell, in which organ-
ization he is interested as a stockholder. No
family is more highly esteemed in this part
of the county.
JOSEPH H. PHILLIPS, who is a promi-
nent and representative citizen of Kimball
county, has spent the greater part of a busy
and useful life in Nebraska. He was nine
years old when his people came to this state
and there is much unwritten history that Mr.
Phillips knows through experience.
Joseph H. Phillips was born in Wabash
county, Indiana, March 18, 1878. His parents
were Henry and Eliza Phillips, farming peo-
ple who came from Indiana to Kimball coun-
ty, Nebraska, in 1887, removing then to Kim-
ball, in Cheyenne county. Of their eight chil-
dren, there are four living, Joseph H. Phillips
having one brother. O. C. who is a sheep man
in Kimball county ; and two sisters, Orpha,
who is the wife of Louis Wayhouse; and
Ruth, who is the wife of George Fast.
Mr. Phillips grew to manhood on the home
farm and obtained a country school education,
more practical than decorative, just what was
needed for a young man starting out to find
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
167
fortune as a farmer and stockraiser. Under
the Kinkaid act he homesteaded and after-
ward added two hundred and forty acres, this
g^iving him eight hundred acres of fine land.
He immediately began raising stock and has
done remarkably well with cattle and horses,
and at the same time has three hundred acres
under fine cultivation, devoting it to general
crop raising. Mr. Phillips is credited with be-
ing an excellent farmer and a good judge of
stock, but public affairs claim a part of his
time. For six years he has been a county
commissioner of Kimball county and has made
a record of which he may be proud.
In ,1900 Mr. Phillips was married to Miss
Jennie Green, a daughter of Abel and Martha
Green, who came to Nebraska from England,
settling in the neighborhood of York. Mr.
Green is deceased, but Mrs. Green survives
and makes her home with her children. Mr.
and Mrs. Phillips have had four children,
namely : Mable, who is teaching school near
her father's ranch ; Bessie, who died Octo-
ber 18, 1918, at the age of fifteen years, a
victim of influenza ; Raymond, who is attend-
ing school ; and Pearl, who is the youngest. Mr.
Phillips and his family are members of the
Presbyterian church, which they attend at
Bushnell, where they have a wide acquaint-
ance. At one time i\Ir. Phillips was active in
the order of Modern ^^'oodmen.
DAVID H. SONDAY, who is numbered
with the substantial and representative men
of Kimball county, an extensive land owner
and for some years a business man of Bush-
nell, is a native of Nebraska, born in Seward
county, March 20, 1881, on his father's pio-
neer homestead.
David H. Sonday was one of a family of
seven children, four sons and three daughters,
born to Edward and Elizabeth Sonday, who
were born, reared and married in the state of
Illinois. From there thev came as early home-
steaders to Seward county, Nebraska, where
the family lived about thirteen years. The
father died at Oberlin, Kansas. After his
death the family moved to Brewster, Kansas,
and the aged mother still resides there. Mr.
Sonday has the following brothers and sisters :
Nettie, who is the wife of Samuel Ayers, a
retired citizen of Chappell ; Amiel, who fol-
lows the blacksmith trade at Brewster, Kan-
sas ; Joseph, who is a farmer at Brewster ;
Kate, who is the wife of Ernest Calkins, who
is a farmer; Louis, who is a farmer in Kan-
sas ; and Lucy, who is the wife of Walter
Stair, a merchant at Brewster.
Until he was twelve years old David H.
Sonday lived in Seward county, but afterward
until 1900, at Brewster, Kansas, where he at-
tended school. He had his own way to make
in the world and after coming to Lodgepole,
in the above year, was variously employed un-
til 1903, when he went to Cheyenne and en-
tered the railroad shops, working there as a
machinist. In 1907 he was sent to Philadel-
phia in the capacity of engine inspector for
the Harriman system, and upon his return
to Cheyenne, became shop foreman and con-
tinued there until August, 1908. He came
then to Kimball county and homesteaded un-
der the Kinkaid law, and now owns two sec-
tions of land. During 1916 and 1917, he en-
gaged in the hardware trade at Bushnell, then
returned to his ranch and since then has given
close attention to his farm and stock. He
has two hundred and fifty acres under cultiva-
tion, a large acreage being in grain, and raises
some of the finest stock that reaches the great
markets from Kimball county. His improve-
ments on the ranch include a comfortable
ranch home, and he also has an attractive resi-
dence at Bushnell. He has some important
business interests here also, and is a stock-
holder in the Bushnell State Bank.
In 1902 Mr. Sonday was united in marriage
at Chappell, Nebraska, to Miss Etta Peters,
who is a daughter of George J. and Catherine
Peters, who were early settlers in Cheyenne
county. Mr. and Mrs. Sonday have one
daughter, Lucy, who is attending school at
Bushnell. Mr. Sonday belongs to the order
of Modern Woodmen and Mrs. Sonday to the
auxilliary organization. He takes a somewhat
active interest in politics and has served as a
member of the board of county commissioners
of Kimball county.
FRED MORBY, who is one of the enter-
prising and prosperous young wheat farmers
of Kimball county, was born at Axtell, Ne-
braska, June 1, 1898. He is a son of Andrew
and Caroline Morby, who had other children
as follows: Axel, Christina, George, Sadie,
Lydia, David, Lena, Robert, Lillian, Leiand,
Harry, Inez and Goldie. All are living except
.Axeland Lillian, who died in infancy.
The parents of Fred IMorby were born in
Sweden and they were reared there and were
married in that country. After they came to
the United States the father settled in Phelps
county, Nebraska, later moving to Kearney
county, and followed the blacksmith trade un-
til 1910, when he came to Kimball county and
took up a section of land under the Kinkaid
168
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
act, and at the time of death, in May, 1919,
he owned seven hundred and twenty acres of
land. He was an honest, sturdy, hard work-
ing man all his life and was greatly respected
wherever known. The mother of Mr. Morby
survives and has recently moved to Ogden,
Utah, in order to give her youngest daughter
high school advantages in that city.
As early as 1912 Fred Morby started out
to take care of himself as an independent
farmer and stockraiser, renting land and now
farming eight hundred and fifty acres, and
preparing to put seven hundred acres in wheat
as his three hundred and seventy-five acres
in wheat in 1918 gave a yield that was en-
couragingly profitable. He keeps about fif-
teen cows but is not much interested in stock
at the present time. He carries on his farm-
ing according to modern methods, using both
horses and tractor.
On January 1, 1913, Mr. ]\Iorby was united
in marriage to Miss Grace Leeper, who is a
daughter of Rev. David A. and Ella Leeper.
The father of Mrs. Morby is a minister of the
Methodist Episcopal church, now stationed at
Hoisington, Barton count)% Kansas. His
other children are as follows: Adrian, Mable,
Zoe, Paul, Murlin and John. Mr. and Mrs.
Morby have two fine, sturdy little sons named
Charles F. and John L. Morby. Mrs. Morby
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Mr. Morby is not active in politics
but he takes much interest in organizations
intended to protect farmers and belongs to
the Farmers Union and has stock in the
Farmers Elevator Company.
ANDREW F. AHLSTROM. who is one
of Kimball county's most highly respected
residents, came to the county thirty-one years
ago and has been identified with its material
development in no small degree. He was born
in Sweden in 1848, a son of Gustavus Ahl-
strom, who was the father of seven children,
five of whom were sons, two only coming to
America, Andrew F. and Otto.
Early in 1888 Andrew F. Ahlstrom and his
brother set out from Sweden for the United
States, the first stopping place on the way to
Nebraska, being Newton county, Iowa, and
also a short time in Minnesota and Indiana.
In the same year Mr. Ahlstrom came on to
Kimball county and homesteaded a quarter sec-
tion as a beginning, later homesteaded a three-
quarter section and now owns five quarter sec-
tions, all of which is very desirable property.
He carries on general farming and is a large
raiser of fine stock, Mr, Ahlstrom has been
honest and industrious all his life and has met
with a large degree of success.
In 1886 Mr. Ahlstrom was married to Miss
Josephine Swanson, a daughter of Pearson
and Frelott Swanson. Her father died in
Sweden and her mother came then to the
United States and lived in Lucas county, Iowa,
until her death. Of her nine children, six
sons and three daughters there are but two
living: [Mrs. Ahlstrom and Mrs. Matilda
Hall, the latter of whom lives near Little
Falls, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Ahlstrom
have had three children: David, a fine young
man, who died in 1913, aged twenty-six years :
Joseph, who is his father's right hand on the
farm; and an infant that died unnamed. Mr.
Ahlstrom and his family enjoy a comfortable
residence on their ranch. He has numerous
business interests at Bushnell, Kimball county,
these including membership in the Farmers
Union, stock in the Farmers Elevator Com-
pany and stock in the Bushnell State Bank.
ERNEST JURBERG. — When such thor-
ough-going farmers as Ernest Jurberg, who is
well and favorably known over Kimball coun-
ty, apply themselves to agricultural pursuits, a
high standard of excellence is set and main-
tained. He has had almost a lifetime of ex-
perience and today is numbered with the lead-
ing, well informed farmers and stockraisers
of Kimball county.
Ernest Jurberg was born in Sweden, Octo-
ber 7, 1872, a son of Theodore and Anna Jur-
berg. They came to the United States when
their son was young. When the latter was
eighteen years old he began working on a cat-
tle ranch in Kimball county and continued
about eight years. When the Kinkaid act
became a law he took advantage of its pro-
visions and homesteaded and proved up. Af-
ter holding the land for nearly fifteen years
he was ottered $30 an acre for it, which he
accepted, afterward receiving the old home
section from his grandmother. Here he car-
ries on general farming and stockraising, do-
ing very well in both industries, usually keep-
ing one hundred and twenty-five head of stock,
of which long experience has made him an
excellent judge.
In 1912 ]\lr. Jurberg was married to Miss
Anna M. Elmquist, a daughter of Carl J. and
Augusta W. Elmquist. The parents of Mrs.
Jurberg still own their fami situated four
miles west of Axtell, Nebraska, but they now
live retired in that town. Mrs. Jurberg had
two brothers, namely : Frank, who is farming
for his father; and Albert, who died October
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
169
21, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Elmquist are mem-
bers of the Swedish Lutheran church at Ax-
tell. Mr. and Mrs. Jurberg have an attrac-
tive little four year old daughter named Eve-
lyn. Mr. Jurberg is a good citizen but not
very active in political matters except in re-
lation to the guarding the interests of the
farmers. He is a member of the Farmers
Union at Bushnell, has stock in the Farmers
Elevator Company, and also is a stockholder
in the Farmers State Bank at Bushnell.
EDWARD P. CROMER. — Nearly thirty-
five years have passed since Edward P. Cromer
drove up the valley in true pioneer style and
settled on a homestead in what was then old
Cheyenne county, and is now Scottsbluff,
where habitations were few and far apart and
civilization existed in a most primitive form.
Since that time he has lived and labored in
varied vocations in this section, slowly and
arduously improving his land in the early days
and at the same time taking an important part
in civic and scholastic developments of this sec-
tion of the country.
Mr. Cromer was born in Indiana, January
18, 1860, being the son of the Reverend John
B. and Mary ( Hedrick) Cromer, the former a
native of the Keystone state, while the mother
was a daughter of the Old Dominion, having
all the gracious hospitality and charm which
Virginia gives her children as an inheritance.
Both are now deceased. The father was a
preacher of the English Lutheran church, hold-
ing charges in various places in the middle
west, where he labored as a shepherd of God's
Kingdom all his days. There were ten chil-
dren in the Cromer family, six of whom are
living; Jas. M., a Lutheran preacher, who for
several years had charge of Grace church, of
Kansas City, before being called to Casper,
Wyoming; John B., who for twenty years be-
fore his death was a train dispatcher at Ossa-
watomie, Kansas ; Richard W., a farmer in
Iowa ; now residing in Des Moines, retired ;
Emma J., the wife of Judge Scott M. Ladd, a
member of the Supreme Court of Iowa for
twenty-eight years, now residing in Des
Moines; Rosa H., married Samuel \Viley, de-
ceased, and she now lives in Irving. Illinois ;
Mary, deceased ; Clara J., deceased : George C,
has charge of a Lutheran or|)lianage at Louis-
ville, Kentucky, and Efiie. tlie wife of a Mr.
Nelson, editor of the Prohibitionist, nf Turtle.
Lake, North Dakota. Mr. Cnmier rect/ived his
elementary training in the jiulilic -chmils of
Illinois and after these courses were completed
entered Carthage College, Carthage, Illinois,
where he pursued higher studies. He at once
engaged in the teaching profession and became
one of the well known and successful men of
the pedagogic fraternity, but he was ambitious
to become independent and knew that a man
who owned land and was not dependent upon a
salary was so. He studied farming in his spare
time and in 1886 came west. As the railroad
was not built up the valley at that time he
drove overland from Sidney, landing in what
is now Scottsblufl^ county the 22nd of Febru-
ary, 1886. Mr. Cromer at once filed on a
homestead and tree claim of 320 acres in sec-
tion 30, township 21, range 54. As he had been
a teacher before coming to the Panhandle and
as men of his profession were scarce in this
section in the early eighties, Mr. Cromer, after
he had made some improvements on his land,
was induced to teach here and opened school in
a "soddy" south of the present site of Gering,
the first school in the valley. Summers he de-
voted to working his land, putting up the neces-
sary farm buildings and in time erected a home
for his family, where they would be comfort-
able. As these were hard and trying years on
the settlers the money ^Ir. Cromer made by
professional work tided the family over a time
when many of the residents of the Panhandle
grew discouraged and returned east, but he and
his wife had faith in the country and happily
both have lived to see it justified. Air. Cromer
taught in Gering four years, in Minatare two
years, and then in Harrisburg two years.
From there he went to Kimball two years, then
to Mitchell to assume charge of the schools
four years, and returned to Gering for a period
of .two years. The first class graduated from
Gering consisted of L. L. Raymond and Marv
Sayer, now Mrs. E. S. Wood, while the las't
class to graduate under Mr. Cromer consisted
of seven boys: Earl Neeley, Harry Barton,
Earnest Moore, Lesley Moore, Amon Downar,
Roy Leavitt, and Robert McFarland. Since he
resigned his post as teacher, Mr. Cromer has
devoted his entire time and energies to farming.
He paid twenty dollars an acre for his present
land and home of 120 acres, December 1, ad-
joining the city of Gering. Today he has a
well-improved farm, is engaged in raising
beets, general crops, forage and feeds cattle to
a large extent. He has been a breeder of pure-
bred Percheron horses for some years and in
this line has won an enviable reputation in the
valley, as he took eleven prizes out of twelve
entries at the county fair in 1918. Mr. Cromer
now owns horses that won prizes at the Inter-
national fair at Chicago in 1919, as well as at
the state fairs. The head of his herd is an In-
ternational winner. He has seen great changes
come to the valley which today is one of the
170
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
richest farming districts in tiie world, and he
has shared in the great wealth that has come
with irrigation as 120 acres of his land is under
ditch, a fertile and productive tract. He has
seen this land advance from $50 a quarter
section to $500 an acre. Sometimes ^Ir.
Cromer can be induced to recount experiences
of the early days, and they are not all hard-
ships as he tells them. He remembers when
their oldest child. Rowena, was but six months
old, he and Mrs. Cromer drove to Sidney with
a team and wagon, to liave a picture of the
baby taken, a trip that required two days ; then
he recalls the time when Robert Osborn came
tramping up the valley and by the time he
reached the Cromer home he had been so long
on the open prairie that he had eaten nothing
for two days, having run out of supplies on
the way.
\\'ithin recent years Air. Cromer has become
convinced that the upper valley is adapted to
fruit and now h;is a fiiu- yi >ung orchard of four
acres which is now hcariii- bi)untifully. He is
one of the pioneer^ in thi^ line.
In politics Mr. Cromer is an independent
voter, wliile he and his wife were charter mem-
bers of the first Methodist church in the valley.
In 1883 l\Ir. Cromer married Miss Ida J.
Kerr, of Hillsboro, Illinois. Four children
have been born to them: Rowena C, wife of
Reverend E. M. Kendall, of Bayard; she is an
accomplished musician, having taught in Wes-
leyan University after completing her musical
education in Boston ; George C of whom per-
sonal mention is found on other pages of this
volume, a farmer, who graduated from the
agricultural course at the State University ; Ida
Gladine, the wife of George C. Coughran, who
was a teacher in the Gering schools; and
Miriam, who graduated from the normal
course at Wesleyan University, is now em-
ployed in the Gering schools.
FRED D. RUTLEDGE, whose large ranch
interest and success in the stock industry,
mark him as one of the important men of
Kimball county, was bom January 14, 1886,
in Wyoming, a member of a well known fam-
ily, the representatives of which are responsi-
ble men and women leading useful lives in
their communities. The parents of Mr. Rut-
ledge were Thomas and Minerva Rutledge. the
former of whom was born in Canada and the
latter in Missouri.
The parents of Air. Rutledge were early
-eitlers in Laramie county, Wyoming, where
the father was an extensive ranchman for
many years. His death occurred in 1915,
since which time the mother has alternated
residing with her children. Of these Fred
D. was the first born, the others being as fol-
lows : Frank, who is a farmer and ranchman
near Pine Dale. Wyoming ; Thomas and Rich-
ard, both of whom live at Pine BlufT, Wyom-
ing; Harry, who is in business at Denver;
Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of Edward
W. Peterson, living on the old Rutledge ranch
west of Pine Bluff.
Fred D. Rutledge passed his boyhood on
his father's ranch and attended the public
schools, later entering the Wyoming State
University at Laramie, where he continued
his studies for two years. After his return
he assumed the larger part of his father's la-
bors on the ranch and in this way his train-
ing for his own important industries was
thorough and practical. He came to his Ne-
braska home on June 12, 1917, purchasing his
ranch of eleven hundred and twenty acres, a
small part of which he is devoting to general
farming, giving his main attention to ranch-
ing. He is an example of the sound sense and
and good judgment that belong to an encour-
aging number of the well educated young men
of the state, for in no field of endeavor could
he have found a more useful or needed exer-
cise of intelligent or generally remunerative
effort.
In 1911, Mr. Rutledge was united in mar-
riage to Miss Eliza E. Cook, a daughter of
Charles and Anna Cook, who reside on their
sheep ranch near Hayward, California. Mr.
and Mrs. Rutledge have two children, James
and Agnes, aged respectively eight and five
years. The family home is at Pine Bluff', Wy-
THOMAS E. BOWERS, a widely known
and highly respected citizen of Kimball coun-
ty, now in the LTnited States mail service, was
born in Missouri, December 25, 1873. His
parents were Charles and Matilda (Harris)
Bowers. The mother was reared in Missouri,
to which state the father came from Virginia,
soon after the close of the Civil War, having
been a soldier in the Confederate army. On
the maternal side, two uncles of Mr. Bowers
entered the Union army but both met a sol-
dier's death before they were far from home.
Thomas E. Bowers lived in Missouri until
he was fourteen years of age, when he accom-
panied his parents to Nebraska. They stopped
first in the eastern part of the state but later
came to Kimball county and settled four miles
southeast of Dix, this then being included in
Cheyenne county. The father died there in
1899, after which the mother lived with her
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
171
children until her death in September. 1912.
Mr. Bowers has two sisters, both of whom
live at Loveland, Colorado.
During early manhood Mr. Bowers worked
for the Union Pacific Railroad, after which he
homesteaded eighty acres, later acquiring four
hundred and eighty acres under the Kinkaid
law, recently selling the entire five hundred
and si.xty acres for $36 an acre and has made
plans for the investment of his capital. In
the meanwhile he is taking care of a United
States mail route.
On July 26, 1894, Mr. Bowers was united
in marriage to Miss OHve Robinson, a daugh-
ter of William and Mary Robinson, natives
of Indiana and early settlers in Adams county.
The father of Mrs. Bowers is deceased but
the mother survives. ]\Irs. Bowers has three
sisters and one brother. To Mr. and Mrs. Bow-
ers the following children were born: Alice
Fay, who is teaching school in Wyoming ; Eva,
who is also a teacher in Wyoming ; Estelle,
who resides in Kimball ; Leta, who died aged
eight months ; Eathan, who is attending the
high school at Kimball ; and Charles William,
who is at home. Mr. Bowers and family be-
belong to the Methodist Episco])al church. He
belongs to the order of Modern Woodmen, and
politically has always been affiliated with the
Democratic party, although never blindly fol-
lowing any leader, being a thoughtful man
capable of entertaining independent views.
EDWARD E. LESTER. — The passage of
the Kinkaid law brought to Kimball county
many men of ambition and enterprise who now
are some of the county's most substantial citi-
zens. One of this class is Edward E. Lester,
who is a limited farmer here but an extensive
stockraiser.
Edward E. Lester was born June 10, 1868,
in the great state of Illinois, his father's farm
lying in Henn,' county. His parents were
James B. and Barbara Sarah (Kemerling)
Lester, the latter of whom was born in October,
1832. and died October 28, 1878. They had
the following children: Lucretia, who died
in 1852; Cyrus Jerome, who was born July
10, 1853, lives at Lamont, Iowa; Frank De-
los, who was born November 6, 1857. is a
farmer in Nebraska ; George W., who was
born in Januarj-, 1859, lives at Omaha ; Grant,
who was born June 8, 1864; Edward Elbert,
who is of Kimball county; Minnie, who was
born July 29, 1871, is the wife of Alexander
Carbaugh, of Iowa; Emma B., who was born
in June 1873 ; and Jeft'erson. Ella and James,
all of whom died in infancy.
During Mr. Lester's boyhood the family
lived in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. He had
fair educational opportunities and remained at
home assisting his father until he was twenty-
four years old and afterward was variously
employed until January, 1899, when he came
to Nebraska, which state has been his chosen
home ever since. He remained at Omaha until
1904, when he homesteaded in Kimball coun-
ty and still lives on his original homestead to
which he has added other tracts. In associa-
tion with his wife he now owns four entire
sections in Kimball county, and they also own
a quarter section in South Dakota. Mr. Les-
ter has two hundred acres under the plow but
is not doing a great deal of farming, bend-
ing his efforts more to the raising of fine
stock, aiming to turn ofif a good number of
head annually.
On July 17, 1911, Mr. Lester was united in
marriage to Miss Joannah B. Hulsebus, a
daughter of Bernard Hulsebus, a substantial
farmer of Shelby county, Iowa. Mrs. Lester's
father is still living in Defiance, Iowa, but the
wife and mother died October 1, 1918. Of
their children Mrs. Lester is the first born,
the others being: Julia, who was the wife of
Frank McGuire, died in Defiance, Iowa, Feb-
ruary 10, 1912; Albert, died June 2, 1907;
Gerhard, living at Eddieville, is a minister in
the Evangelical church ; Tillie, who is the wfe
of Benjamin Ahrenholtz, a farmer near De-
fiance, Iowa ; Marie, who is the wife of W.
W. Jenkins, a merchant in Defiance; Bennie,
who died March 6, 1896. Mrs. Lester is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church at
Kimball. Mr. Lester belongs to the Farmers
L'uion. In his political views he is independ-
ent, casting his vote for the candidate that
meets the approval of his own excellent but
unprejudiced judgment.
JOHN CLAUSEN, Jr., who is successfully
operating his large farm and ranch in Kimball
county, is well and favorably known in his
neighborhood, for he was born on the site of
the present thriving town of Dix, August 2,
1890. He was reared and educated here and
his main interests have always been centered
in this part of Kimball county.
The parents of Mr. Clausen, John and
Catherine Clausen now live retired at Te-
cumseh. They came to Kimball county in
1883, the father being section foreman on the
railroad. He homesteaded a quarter section
just south of Dix, which he later sold for
$200, the same land being now held around
$70 an acre. He then bought five sections
172
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
for $1.25 an acre, which he later sold for $20
an acre, then purchased seven sections as
pasture land. Mr. Clausen not only proved to
be an able and enterprising business man dur-
ing his most active years, but became influen-
tial in Democratic political circles and for
several years was a county commissioner in
Kimball county. He belongs to the order
of United Workmen and Woodmen of the
World, and both he and wife are members of
the Presbyterian church. They have had the
following children: Minnie, who is a school
teacher at Fairmount. Nebraska ; Mary, who
is the wife of Gustav Wendt, of Kimball coun-
ty; Emma, who is the wife of Clarence Ander-
son, of Tecumseh, Nebraska; Annie, who is
the wife of Glenn L. Byers, of St. Joseph,
Missouri ; John, who is of Kimball county ;
Hilda, who is the wife of Richard Rowe, of
Tecumseh ; Otto R.. who is a railroad man at
Buford, Wyoming; and Herman, who attends
school and lives with his parents at Tecumseh,
and is taking a course in agriculture in Lin-
coln.
Before Mr. Clausen started out as a busi-
ness man for himself, he had the opportunity
of acquiring practical agricultural knowledge,
which he has put to good account, as is evi-
denced by the success attending his present
undertakings. He owns a half section and
has the other half section under lease, has
one hundred and sixty acres under the plow
and keeps about one hundred head of stock.
His place is highly improved with a really fine
residence, a barn with dimensions of 42x90
feet, an abundance of well kept out-buildings,
and a well two hundred and eleven feet in
depth. Progressive, intelligent and scientific,
Mr. Clausen as an agriculturist, is removed
as far as possible from the old-time farmer
who expected from his land more than he put
into it. ffl
Mr. Clausen was married June 1, 1916, to
Miss Lillian M. Birt, a daughter of Clarence
E. and Catherine (^McRory) Birt, whose
sketch appears in this volume. Mr. and Mrs.
Clausen have one son, Bruce John, who made
his welcome appearance April 28, 1917. Mr.
and Mrs. Clausen are members of the Presby-
terian church, attending St. John chapel. He
belongs to the order of the W'oodmen of the
World at Potter, Nebraska. Mr. Clausen
lives up to the requirements of a good and
useful citizen, but is identified with no po-
litical party, and has never been a seeker for
public office.
CLARENCE E. BIRT, who is one of Kim-
ball county's representative men, is widely
known and is identified with many important
interests here. Dependable and reliable, true
to every trust reposed in him in boyhood, Mr.
Birt grew from youth to manhood with the
sound, steady character that has ever since
gained him recognition among those who
cherish high ideals of the true value of life.
Clarence E. Birt was bom in County Kent,
England, January 12, 1868, a son of Alfred
Nelson Birt, who came to America in 1888.
The mother of Mr. Birt never left England,
her death occurring in the city of London. Of
the family of five sons and three daughters,
Clarence E. was the third in order of birth,
the others being as follows : Alfred, who
died in infancy ; Henry, who resides in the
city of London ; Claude, who is a resident of
Fargo, North Dakota ; Herbert, who served as
a soldier in a Canadian regiment during the
great war ; Maude, who is the wife of John
B. Kenyon, of Carlton, Oregon ; and Agnes
and Florence, both of whom died when in-
fants. The father died in Humoldt county,
Iowa, in 1903.
When fourteen years old Clarence E. Birt
went to work as a clerk in the office of James
Carr & Sons' Flouring Mill, at Waltham, Eng-
land, and Mr. Birt prizes highly a testimonial
as to his character and efficiency that is signed
by this great English firm, and, in fact, has
similar testimonials from every business house
with which he was connected while remain-
ing in his native land. For three and a half
years he was employed by the great firm of J.
Jackson, clothiers, London, and still later trav-
eled as a jewelry salesman, and in this capacity
while in Ireland, during industrial troubles
there witnessed the eviction of tenant farmers.
He also had mercantile experience in a Capi-
tal and Labor store, in London, where goods
were sold for cash on a five per cent basis, the
daily sales sometimes amounting to $4,000.
In 1893, soon after his marriage, Mr. Birt
and wife left England, crossed the Atlantic
ocean in the steamship City of Paris, landed
in the harbor of New York and immediately
joined his father in Humboldt county, Iowa.
Prior to this Mr. Birt had not had agricultural
experience, but, with his father's encourage-
ment and substantial backing, he embarked in
the business of farming, and finding the ven-
ture both congenial and profitable, continued
to rent farms and operate them in Iowa for the
next fifteen years. In 1907 he came to Kim-
ball county, Nebraska, and bought a relinquish-
ment claim of four hundred and eighty acres,
under the Kinkaid act, and proved up, in the
meanwhile engaging in other business enter-
prises, especially merchandising, the details of
which were familiar to him. Railroad building
I
George Ehrman
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
173
was causing an increase in the value of prop-
erty and a little settlement at Dix was ex-
panding into a village. Mr. Birt took advan-
tage of this opportunity and started a store,
and his appointment as postmaster was
brought about. He remained at Dix for four
years and in addition to his general store, con-
ducted a lumber yard, sold coal and handled
grain. When he sold his interests there his
yearly sales amounted to more than $12,000.
He traded his store to Philip Nelson for a sec-
tion of land that adjoined his homestead. He
now owns sixteen hundred acres of land,
carries on general farming and keeps about
one hundred head of high grade White Face
cattle.
In 1893 Mr. Birt was united in marriage to
Miss Catherine McRory, a daughter of Rich-
ard and Elizabeth McRory. They were resi-
dents of London. England, where the father
followed the trade of harnessmaking. Mrs.
Birt is one of a family of fourteen children,
as follows: Charles Jones, who died in 1906;
Richard Jones, who has been chief decorator
of Windsor Castle for almost fifty years; El-
len, who is the wife of Charles Lonergan ;
Henry G., who follows his father's trade in
London ; Edward G., who is conducting a mar-
ket business in London ; Mary, who was the
wife of Bert Chenney, a city policeman in
London; Francis M., who lives in the Malay
Straits settlements, the home of the Royal
family ; and Arthur, who is manager of a rub-
ber estate in that part of the world ; Catherine,
who is Mrs. Birt; and five who died in in-
fancy. Mrs. Birt has reason to be proud of
the record made by her family in the great
war. She had seventeen nephews who served
on the battle fields of France, all of whom
lived to return after being honorably dis-
charged, although one was badly gassed by the
inhuman enemy and another had an arm shat-
tered, and still another returned with the D.
C. M. shining on his breast.
Mr. and Mrs. Birt have children as follows :
Lillian Maud, who is the wife of John Clausen,
Jr. ; Arthur, who, at the time the United
States entered the great war, oiTered his serv-
ices to the sherifl:' of Kimball county, who sent
him to a training camp at Lincoln from which
he subsequently was honorably discharged
and is now operating his father's ranch ; Al-
fred G., who is also on the home ranch ; Hazel
D., who is attending the high school at Kim-
l)all ; and Audrey E." and Joyce O., who are at
home. Mr. Birt and family are members of
the St. John Presbyterian church.
Although Mr. BiVt has by no means retired
from active life, he has shifted his ranch re-
sponsibilities to the capable shoulders of his
eldest son, his time being ' largely occupied
with other business aflfairs. He is a director of
the Farmers Elevator Company at Dix, and
is secretary- and treasurer of the Farmers
Union Co-operative store at that place. He is
prominent in the councils of the Republican
party, is precinct assessor and chairman of
the Republican Central committee. He was
chairman also of the board of regents of the
Kimball county high school. For more than
twenty years Mr. Birt has belonged to the
order of Modern Woodmen, and is an Odd
Fellow, his local conection being with the lodge
at Sidney.
GEORGE EHRMAN.— One of the young-
er generation of agriculturists carrying on
operations in Scottsblufif county, whose pro-
gressiveness and industry are rapidly bringing
him into a favorable position, is the man whose
name heads this review.
Mr. Ehrman was born in Germany, June 9,
1884, the son of George and Katherine Ehr-
man, an account of whose lives will be found
elsewhere in this volume under the name of
Frederick Ehrman. George accompanied his
parents to America when they emigrated from
their native land and received his educational
advantages in the public schools of Colorado
where the family located after reaching the
LInited States. While living at Brush, in the
mountain state, he devoted himself to his
studies and thus laid the foundation for a good
practical education. After his school-days
were over Mr. Ehrman began to farm with his
father so that while still a youth he had a good
working knowledge of agricultural business
and farm methods. He remained in Colorado
until 1910 when he decided to establish himself
independently in business operations and that
year in partnership with his brother Frederick
came to ScnttsblutT county and bought 160
acres. At that time no one believed tlie land
was worth much and could not see where the
brothers were to become successful but irriga-
tion solved that problem and today most of the
property is under ditch and that which is not
makes fine grazing pasture. Eighty acres more
land was added to the original holdings in 1913,
at a hundred dollars an acre, the final payments
being completed in 1917. This joins the town
of Gering and is worth $500 per acre. This
now belongs to George personally and is one of
the show places of the county, a rather fine
thing for two young farmers to do when you
consider that all the equipment they had ten
years ago was their ability to work and a de-
174
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
termination to succeed. From the first the
Ehrman brothers placed good and permanent
improvements on their farm, these have been
added to with the passing years and a fine com-
fortable home erected where the mother now
lives. The soil has been raised to a high state of
fertility, they are engaged in general farm en-
terprises and specialize in thoroughbred stock,
having pure-blooded Percheron horses, Short
Horn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs, shipping a
large quantity to the eastern markets each year.
]\Ir. Ehrman believes in modern methods on the
farm and has inaugurated many that he be-
lieves are efficient in his business. He is a
shrewd buyer and good seller, due to his study
of market conditions and today is one of the
best and most representative members of the
younger generation of the farming element of
the valley who are making history for the Pan-
handle as one of the most productive sections
of a rich state. Mr. Ehrman is an independent
in politics and a member of the Lutheran
church. He advocates and supports all move-
ments for the development of the county and
his community and lives up to a high standard
of citizenship. In 1919 he erected a beautiful
modern home and a large barn in 1917. On his
place is one of the finest homes in the county.
His place adjoins the town of Gering.
HANS C. L. LARSON. — When the good
people of Kimball county refer to their best
and most useful citizens, they are considering
such men as Hans Christian Lund Larson, a
successful and enterprising farmer and stock-
raiser, who lives up to every requirement of
law and order, sets an example of thrift and
industry, and co-operates officially and other-
wise with his township neighbors in work for
the general welfare.
Mr. Larson was born in Polk county, Wis-
consin; June 20, 1880, one of a family of two
sons and six daughters born to Peter and
Sophia Larson, the other members of the
family being as follows: Mary, who is the
wife of Peter Nelson, a prominent resident of
Kimball county; Annie, who was accidentally
killed on the railroad in 1906, was the wife
of Peter Nelson ; Emma, who died at the age
of eight years; Rose, who is the wife of
Guy M. Fleming, of Kimball county ; Emma,
who is the wife of Jesse Rockwell ; and Lil-
lian and Clarence V., both of whom reside at
Kimball. The father of the above family was
born in Denmark, ]\Iay 11, 1852, and died in
Nebraska, September 21, 1910. He came to
the United States when about twenty-one years
old, shortly afterward locating at Taylor Falls,
Wisconsin, where he lived as lumberman and
farmer for eighteen years. His marriage to
Sophia Hanson took place in Wisconsin, and
they lived on his farm in Polk county until
they came to Nebraska, living at Potter at
first, then homesteading a quarter section and
securing also a quarter section tree claim in
Kimball county, situated ten miles south and
one mile east of Dix. The father proved up
and spent the rest of his life on this land, the
mother, after his death, retiring to Kimball.
Hans C. L. Larson was ten years old when
his parents moved to Kimball county. He
worked on the home farm and had school ad-
vantages in both country and town. When the
Kinkaid law went into eft'ect, he determined
to take advantage of its provisions, with ex-
cellent business judgment securing his present
farm, filing on section 2-12-54, proved up and
built a comfortable farm cottage and a com-
modious barn, the dimensions of the latter be-
ing 48x48 feet. He has made numerous other
improvements that greatly enhance the value
of his property which is kept in the best pos-
sible condition. He has 300 acres of his land
under cultivation and keeps one hundred and
fifty head of cattle and horses. Mr. Larson
has a section of school land under lease as
pasturage.
On March 30, 1909, Mr. Larson was mar-
ried to Miss Minnie T. Benson, who is a
daughter of Gunder and Louise Benson, whose
other children were as follows : Helen, John,
Ida, deceased in Canada; Elizabeth, Emma,
Clara, deceased on the homestead, Alice and a
son who died in infancy. The father of Mr.
Larson was born in Norway and was only six
years old when he accompanied his parents to
the United States. They settled in Iowa and
Mr. Benson grew up there and remained until
1907, when he came to Kimball county and
located four miles south and east of Dix,
where he died four months later. The mother
of Mrs. Larson has a fine home in Dix. To
Mr. and Mrs. Larson three children have been
born, namely : Glennie, who was born De-
cember 18, 1909 ; Mable, who was born Octo-
ber 8, 1911; and JNIarguerite, who was born
April 3, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Larson moved
to Dix and built a fine residence in order to
give their children advantages of schooling
there, Mr. Larson being a firm believer of
education. He has served six years as a faith-
ful member of his township's school board and
for three years has been school treasurer.
HANS P. NELSON. — In times of great
trouble and industrial unrest in a country, it is
a relief to turn attention to such sturdy, self-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
175
reliant men as Hans Peter Nelson, who is one
of the substantial and representative men of
Kimball county. It probably would be a diffi-
cult matter to convince such a man that there
is anything ignoble in the work of hand and
brain, hard, continuous, honest work, through
which he has been able to build up an ample
fortune in one of the finest states in the Ameri-
can Union.
Hans Peter Nelson was born in Denmark,
March 28, 1853, and is the younger of two sons
born to Nels and Bertie Nelson. His older
brother bore the name of Rasmus. Through
a second marriage the father had two daugh-
ters, namely: Sina and Bertie. The father had
a small farm of four acres and spent his life in
Denmark.
When Hans P. Nelson was a boy he helped
his father till the little home farm, and later
worked for neighbors who had somewhat larg-
er tracts of land, during this time possibly
hoping for a future that would enable hmi to
cross the great ocean to a coimtry where fer-
tile land was easy to acquire. It is not prob-
able, however, that in those days he ever
dreamed of his present possession of hundreds
of acres of richly productive land, of the fine
stock in his pastures and investments in re-
putable business concerns. It was not until he
had been married six years that the oppor-
tunity came for Mr. Nelson to come to the
United States. After landing in the harbor
of New York, he and wife soon were on their
way to Linn county, Missouri, where he rent-
ed farm land and remained for ten years. It
was on October, 18, 1882 that he and wife
reached America, and it was in the spring of
1893 that they came to Nebraska. Mr. Nelson
homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in
Kimball county, and after the Kinkaid law be-
came a fact, took an additional three-quarter
section, to this large body of land adding
gradually until he now owns two entire sec-
tions of some of the finest land in Kimball
county, all of which he acquired through his
own industry. Mr. Nelson carries on exten-
sive general farming and stock-raising and has
four hundred and eighty acres under cultiva-
tion. He is yet active in looking after his
farm industries and is ably assisted by his
adopted son. John W. H. Nelson, who is a
very enterprising and capable young man. The
latter married Miss Edith Whittaker, a daugh-
ter of H. A. Whittaker, and they nave two
little adopted daughters: Ruth, who was
born in 1917 : and Mary, who was born in
June, 1919.
Mr. Nelson's marriage took place in Den-
mark, in 1876, to Kirsten Hanson, who ac-
companied him to America and bore her part
in his struggles to make headway after reach-
ing this country. Mrs. Nelson came with him
to the homestead in Kimball county, Nebraska,
but remained with him only two years longer,
her death occurring May '3, 1895. She had
taken much pride and interest in the new
home, and when she passed away Mr. Nelson
laid her to rest within fifty feet of the front
door. It was not until 1919 that her remains
were removed to the beautiful city cemetery
of Kimball. Mr. Nelson is not only inter-
ested in his land but has other investments, in-
cluding stock in the Farmers Elevator Com-
pany at Dix.
JOHN N. RASMUSSEN. — Not nearly
all the interesting stories have yet been told of
the pioneering days and people of Nebraska.
There may be a similarity in many of these but
nevertheless there is always a personal touch
that arouses interest. To Howard county in
its early days, came many strong and sturdy
people who brought with them the habits of
thrift and industry in which they had been
reared in the native Denmark, and of these
was the Rasmussen family which has contin-
ued true to type.
John Nels Rasmussen, who is one of Kim-
ball county's upright men and substantial farm-
ers and stockraisers, was born in Howard
county, Nebraska, September 7, 1878, one of
the two children born to Hans and Maria
(Nelson) Rasmussen. Mr. Rassmussen had
one sister, Julia, who married James Miller,
who lived near Greeley, Colorado, at that time,
moved later to Idaho, where she died on her
husband's pioneer ranch. Both parents of Mr.
Rasmussen were born in Denmark. The fa-
ther came to the United States when a young
man, in 1863. and located near Green Bay,
Wisconsin. The mother come in 1865 and for
a time was in New York and a short time in
Chicago, finally Green Bay, and there, in 1867
Hans Rasmussen and Alaria Nelson were mar-
ried. Until 1871 they remained in Wisconsin,
but in that year decided to move to Nebraska
in order to secure government land. They
traveled by railroad to Omaha, in which city
they secured a prairie schooner and a team of
horses, with which they started across the
prairie to Howard county, Nebraska, where
the father homesteaded eighty acres. The
wagon served as a home imtil other arrange-
ments could be made, and the family lived on
the homestead for twenty-one years, during
that time often facing hardships of all kinds.
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
The venerable mother of Mr. Rassmussen,
with her unimpaired memory, can tell of those
days, of their trials and pleasures, in a very
interesting wav. In the spring of 1892 they
left Howard county and came to Kmiball coun-
ty, settling on section 10-13-53, and resided
there until the father's death.
John N. Rasmussen remained at home and
assisted his father both before and after com-
ing to Kimball countv. In 1913 he was mar-
ried to Miss Helen Benson, a daughter of
Gunder and Louise Benson. The father of
Mrs. Rasmussen died in 1907 but the mother
survives and has many friends and acquamt-
ances in Kimball county. The entire connec-
tion belongs to the Lutheran church.
Mr. Rasmussen was one of the first to be
prepared to file on land under the Kinkaid act
when the opportunity came. In 1904 he home-
steaded under this law, on section 22-13-53,
and now has three hundred and twenty-five
acres of his extensive tract under careful cul-
tivation, and gives much attention to stock,
keeping one hundred and fifty head of cattle
and horses. He devotes the most of his time
to looking after his farm industries, but has
some other investments, included in these be-
ing stock in the Farmers Union Elevator at
Potter. Mr. Rasmussen has always been deem-
ed a good citizen, is widely known and belongs
to that class of men of whom it is often said,
"his simple word is as good as his bond." Mr.
and Mrs. Rasmussen have one child, Elmer J.,
born December 9, 1919.
ANDREW ANDERSON. — There are few
men better known or more highly respected in
the neighborhood of Potter, Nebraska, than
Andrew Anderson, who, for many years has
been a large landowner here, an extensive
farmer and stockman, and financially inter-
ested in a number of successful business en-
terprises at Potter and Dix.
Andrew Anderson was born in Denmark,
September 24, 1862. His parents were Peter
and Maria Anderson, natives of Denmark,
where the father died in 1911, at the age of
eighty years and the mother in 1915, at the age
eg eighty-two years. Andrew Anderson had
one sister and four brothers, as follows : Elsie,
who died at Piano, Illinois, was the wife of
Michael Johnson; an infant that died at birth;
one who died aged three years ; Jens, who is a
farmer in Denmark ; and Edward who lives at
Brush, Colorado.
In 1873, accompanied by his only sister, An-
drew Anderson came to the United States.
After landing in the harbor of New York, they
made their way to Piano, Illinois, where the
sister remained the rest of her life, Mr. An-
derson, however, working in that vicinity for
three years only. He then came to Potter,
Cheyenne county, finding employment in the
village for a year, after which he began to
accumulate land which now aggregates many
hundred acres. He took up a half section,
homesteading one hundred and sixty acres,
with tree claim of one hundred and sixty
acres and has remained here ever since, and at
the present time has eight hundred acres of
deeded land, and a twenty-five-year lease on a
half section of school land. Of this he has
two hundred and fifty acres devoted to gen-
eral farming and is a heavy raiser of cattle
and horses, formerly turning out as many as
two hundred head a year. Mr. Anderson's
improvements have kept pace with his finan-
cial progress. He has an abundance of water
which he utilizes according to modern meth-
ods, has erected one of the handsome farm
residences of this section and barns and other
farm structures equal to the best in the coun-
ty-
In 1892 Mr. Anderson was married to Miss
Elsie Johnson, a daughter of Jens Johnson.
Mrs. Anderson was born in Denmark and
grew up in the same neighborhood as ^Ir.
Anderson. When he had a home prepared he
sent for her and she came alone to America
and joined him. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have
had but one child, a daughter, who is now the
wife of Jacob Nelson ,and they live in Kim-
ball county. A son of Mr. Anderson's broth-
er. Christian Anderson, now a young man of
twenty years, has lived with Mr. and jNIrs.
Anderson since he was left motherless at the
age of two years. He is now Mr. Anderson's
right hand man.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of
the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Anderson
has never been very active in local politics,
but he has been an important factor in found-
ing and carrying on business concerns of con-
siderable magnitude in this section and has
investments in the Dix ^Mercantile Company,
at Dix, the Farmers Elevator at Potter, he
also has stock in the Western Mortgage Com-
pany of Denver. He owns a residence at
Potter.
JACOB M. NELSON, who is a prominent
citizen of Potter. Nebraska, and interested in
business enterprises here, was bom in Den-
mark a son of Julius and Sophia Nelson, who
came to the United States in 1886.
It was considerable of an undertaking for
AND AIrs. John W. Morris
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
177
the parents of Mr. Nelson to move from Den-
mark to America, for they had a family of
nine children, the youngest being six months
old. They accomplished it however and
safely reached Racine, Wisconsin, where a
relative was comfortably established, and re-
mained there about four months. The father,
in the meanwhile, started out to look up a
home, finally homesteading in Nebraska. His
death occurred at Racine, Wisconsin, and the
mother died at Blair, Nebraska. Their chil-
dren were as follows : Peter, who is a fruit-
grower in California; Christine, who was the
wife of Melbourne Tracy, of Montana, and
died March, 1920; John, who died at the age
of thirty years ; Hans, who lives in California ;
Bina, who is the wife of John Hanson, of
Council Bluffs, Iowa ; Jacob M., our subject,
who belongs to Potter, Nebraska ; Margaret,
who died at the age of two years ; Phillip,
who is in business at Dix ; Margaret, who is
the wife of Ove Anderson, county clerk for
twelve years and now in the real estate busi-
ness at Blair, Nebraska. The parents were
members of the Lutheran church.
On November 22, 1915, Mr. Nelson was
united in marriage to Miss Matilda Ander-
son, a member of a prominent family of this
name in the county, and they have one son,
Leonard, who was named in honor of Gen.
Leonard Wood, who, at present is an out-
standing figure in political as he has been in
military circles for many years.
Mr. Nelson owns two thousand acres of
fine land, in addition to having an interest in
the old homestead. He has seventy-five acres
under a fine state of cultivation and raises a
few horses, but devotes his main attention to
cattle, running annually about two hundred
and fifty head. He is interested in the Farm-
ers Elevator Company at Potter. He and
wife are members of the Lutheran church at
Potter.
JOHN W. MORRIS, pioneer, frontiersman,
and early settler, is probably one of the oldest
men now living within the confines of Scotts-
bluff county, having passed his seventy-sixth
year. He has the honor of having filed on the
first claim in the Gering valley, then called
Cedar valley. His career has been one in
which he has had varied and interesting experi-
ences, from hunting bufifalo on the western
prairies of Nebraska to the civilized existence
of these modern days, and few men, twenty
years younger, bear so few of the scars of life.
Mr. Morris and his faithful wife ran the full
gamut of pioneer experiences and their remin-
iscences of the early days are most graphic and
interesting. They made the overland journey
to and through Nebraska with a team of oxen
and a wagon and girded themselves with the
indomitable valor and undauntable purpose
that are ever the prerequisites of success under
the conditions that must obtain in the opening
of a new country to civilization and progress.
Mr. Morris has been in the most significant
sense the architect of his own fortunes and few
men have played a larger or more important
part in connection with the development and
upbuilding of Scottsblufif county along both
civic and industrial lines. Of this no further
assurance is needed than the statement that he
has amassed a comfortable fortune, and has so
ordered his manner of life as to merit and
receive at all stages the unqualified respect and
confidence of his fellowmen. It is most grat-
ifying to be able to present in this publication
a tribute to Mr. Morris, as a pioneer of pio-
neers and to enter brief review of a career that
has been marked by earnest endeavor, and no
history of this county would be complete with-
out the name of the first white settler in the
Gering valley. Mr. Morris now lives in gra-
cious retirement in the city of Gering, and
though venerable in age, the years rest lightly
upon him, while he finds a full measure of sat-
isfaction in reverting to the attractive social
and material conditions and environment which
he has aided in creating in Scottsblufif county.
John W. Morris is one of the gallant sons of
the nation who went forth in defense of the
LTnion when the Civil War was precipitated on
the country. In response to President Lin-
coln's call for volunteers he enlisted in the
First Delaware Cavalry and when his regiment
was dissolved entered the infantry and with
this gallant command served out the entire
course of the war in the Army of the East, in
the Petersburg campaign. In later years Mr.
Morris has found pleasure in vitalizing the
associations of his military career by affiliation
with the Grand Army of the Republic, Gering
Po.st No. 169.
John W. Morris was born in Caroline coun-
ty, Maryland, June 4, 1843, the son of Vincent
and Elizabeth Morris, the father being born
and reared in this state along the bay, and the
mother in Delaware. Mr. Morris received his
educational advantages in the public schools
and while still a boy assumed many of the
duties and much of the work on his father's
farm. After his schooling was over he estab-
lished himself independently in farm industry,
as that was the business with which he was
most familiar and of which he had an excellent
working knowledge, but he was an ambitious
man, and this old settled countv offered few
178
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
opportunities to a man ot
Tor who deter-
...ined to branch out, "put fortune to the haz-
ard " and seek out what the "Golden West
might have in store. Mr. Morris had read
widely along lines connected with his busmess
and knew of the offers mads by the govern-
ment of fertile lands on the high praines ot
the middle west and in 1885 he and his wife
severed all the old home associations and ties
that bound them to the east and started for
Nebraska, then considered a part of the "Great
American Desert." Mr. and Mrs. Morris
drove into the state in true pioneer style ; they
had a team of oxen, the best animals for break-
ing the sod, hitched to their wagon in \vliich
were carried their household goods. They
drove their hogs and cattle along with them as
settlements were few and far between in that
early day. It was a long, tedious journey up
the river" route across the great commonwealth
that today is one of the richest in the Union,
but thev were high-hearted and their faith m
this new countrv" kept up their courage. At
last they reached Scottsbluff county and took
up the "first claim in the Cedar valley, later
changed to Gering valley. At that time all this
great" plains country was the range of the great
cattle barons, who owned vast herds that
ranged from Texas in the winter to Wyoming
in the summer and Mr. :\Iorris tells that it was
impossible for men or women to go out on foot
for fear of cattle running them down, so were
forced to go everywhere on horseback. He
remembers verv we"ll the first day in the valley,
when he was riinning out the line of his claim,
that a man came along driving several horses
through ; thev talked and it proved that he was
H. M. Springer, who was one of the early resi-
dents of Mitchell, a friendship that has con-
tinued through the years. Mr. :\Iorris says
that he had to drive to Sidney for his supplies,
a trip that took four days, and when he decided
to replace his first sod house with a frame
building he had to drive to Laramie Peak,
Wyoming, and freight the lumber into the
Gering valley. After getting settled and erect-
ing a log ho'use for shelter of the family and
such primitive farm structures that were abso-
lutely necessary, i\Ir. :Morris began the labori-
ous work of breaking the prairie sod with his
team of oxen. Soon after arriving in the Pan-
handle, Mr. :Morris put his previous farming
experience to good use by buying cattle to stock
his land and soon developed a paying business
of it. He planted diversified grain crops, but
the early years were hard ones in w^estern Ne-
braska, "due to drought, blizzards, crop failures,
and the insect pests that destroyed the growing
grain. However, the Morrises were not dis-
couraged and they have lived to see their faith
in this section proved true, where w-ere only
unbroken rolling prairies when they first came
is now a smiling countryside, green with the
growing crops in the summer, dotted with pros-
perous, flourishing towns and villages, and with
irrigation Scottsbluff' county has become the
garden spot of Nebraska. IMr. Morris im-
proved his homestead, and when his capital per-
mitted bought other land adjoining the original
claim, until he was one of the heavy and sub-
stantial landed men of the section and for
many years was actively engaged in the various
branches of farm enterprise from which he
reaped a well deserved return and today has
given up active life, disposed of all his holdings
but five acres where his beautiful home is locat-
ed. Now in the sunset years of life he can
look back and feel that life has been worth
while for he can visualize the changes that have
taken place in the thirty-five years since he
drove up the valley. In politics Mr. Morris is
an adherent of the Republican party but draws
no tight party lines when it comes to local elec-
tions, believing that the man best fitted to serve
the people should be elected.
October 17, 1872. Mr. Alorris married Miss
Elizabeth Haskell, born in Scott county, Illi-
nois, February 7, 1847, and they became the
parents of three children ; Bertram, who lives
in Tacoma, Washington ; Bertha, who married
Sam Lawyer, who died, and she now lives in
Gering; and Benjamin, who is the deputy
sheriff of Scottsbluff county.
The foregoing record, implying much to him
who can read between the lines as well as ap-
preciate the data of the context itself, will be
read with great pleasure by the many friends
of Mr. and Mrs. Morris in Scottsbluff' county
and will prove a definite and worthy contribu-
tion to the generic history of this favored
section of Nebraska, as their names merit an
enduring place of honor and distinction on the
pages of the history of Scottsliluft' county.
JOHN G. BAUR, who is a highly prosper-
ous farmer and stockman in Kimball county,
has lived here for eighteen years, and dur-
ing that time has been a witness not only of
great agricultural development in this sec-
tion, but of ;he actual building of such busy
and important towns as Bushnell and Dix. He
has done his part in forwarding many of the
enterprises that have contributed to this rapid
expansion.
John G. Baur was born in Germany, No-
vember 4, 1862, one of a family of fourteen
children. Six of the sons and five daughters
came to America. The parents died in Ger-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
179
many, the mother in 1886 and the father in
1890. They were honest, virtuous people re-
spected by all in their community and mem-
bers of the Lutheran church.
When John G. Baur landed in the port of
New York he was twenty-seven years old. In
his native land he had learned the shoernaking
trade, but his aim in coming to America was
to become the owner of a western homestead
with material comforts for himself and fam-
ily. In 1901 yir. Baur came to Kimball coun-
ty and settled near what is Bushnell at the
present time, but then was represented by a
little shed on the site of the flourishing town.
He lived there one year during which he was
in partnership with his brother-in-law, Charles
Snyder, in the cattle business. He then moved
to what is the present site of Dix and started
into the cattle business for himself, in which
he continued for three years and then home-
steaded a three-quarter section on the main
road three miles from Dix. Thus Mr. Baur
succeeded in his desire that had brought him
to America, in a. comparatively short time.
He has placed substantial improvements here,
has an attractive and comfortable farm house,
commodious barns and other buildings and an
air of thrift is everywhere to be observed. Of
his homestead he now has three hundred and
fifty acres under the plow. Since his first
purchase, he has added] the other quarter
section and additionally has bought a three-
quarter section east of the homestead.
In 1892 Mr. Baur was married to Miss
Catherine Funk, who was born in Germany
and accompanied her people to the United
States. They were very early settlers in
Madison county. Nebraska, and her father
built the first blacksmith shop. In the early
days there the Funk family endured many
hardships. They lived a distance of fifty
miles from a market and on many occasions
the father or brothers of Mrs. Baur would
carry a dressed hog to town and exchange it
for a bag of flour. The crops were eaten up
by the grasshoppers, the only fortunate son of
the family being the blacksmith, for the in-
sects could not eat the anvil. Eight children
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Baur and all sur-
vive except the eldest son, who died at the
age of two and a half years. The others are
as follows : Walter, who is engaged in farm-
ing, was honorably discharged from military
service in the great war after training in
camp at Fremont, in New Jersey, and at Fort
Lee, Virginia ; Gertrude, who lives with her
parents ; Henry, who is manager of a cattle
ranch in Wyoming; Otto, who is associated
with his father; Frank, who is also a farmer;
and John and Eugene, both of whom are at-
tending school. Mr. Baur and family are
members of the Lutheran church. Aside from
his land and stock, Mr. Baur has other invest-
ments, one being in the Elevator Company at
Dix. Mr. Baur is an honorable, upright citi-
zen, a competent farmer and business man and
a friendly, helpful neighbor.
CHARLES G. NELSON, who is promi-'
nent in business circles at Kimball and well
and favorably known in other sections, was
born at Stanton, in Montgomery county, Iowa,
February' 22, 1872. His parents were Lars
Peter and Loiuse Nelson, both of whom were
born in Sweden. Their marriage took place
in Henry county, Illinois, in 1866.
Charles Gustav Nelson remained on the
farm with his father until he was twenty-five
years old. His father died at Stanton. Iowa,
Februan- 14, 1901. and his mother at Boone,
Iowa, March 21, 1919. In 1897 Mr. Nelson
embarked in the real estate business at Stan-
ton, three years later accepting a railway mail
route and two years afterward was appointed
assistant postmaster at Stanton. On July 17,
1906, he came to Genoa, Nebraska and became
identified with the insurance department of
the Modern Woodmen of America and con-
tinued in that work for eighteen months. He
was then called to Omaha as state manager
for the Monarch Land & Loan Company of
Kansas City, Missouri. He remained in that
position for one year, then returned to Genoa
and became associated with C. W. Kaley of
Omaha, and became state manager for all of
South Dakota and the northern half of Ne-
braska for two years for the Woodman Acci-
dent Association, after which he was with the
Woodmen of the World for two years. Mr.
Nelson then went into business of handling
flour, feed and produce, which enterprise he
turned over to his son in July, 1916, and then
established the Monarch Land Company of
Genoa with William E. Martin. On March
1, 1919, a third interest in the business was
bought by Carl O. Heart. On April 1, 1919,
Mr. Nelson came to Kimball and established
the real estate business in partnership with his
son Wayne I., which is operated as the Mon-
arch Land Company. A large land business is
now being done in the western part of the
county by this firm.
On June 14, 1895, Mr. Nelson was united in
marriage to ]Miss Julia J. Peterson, a daugh-
ter of Gustav and Louise Peterson, who had
children as follows: George, who died in in-
180
HISTORY OF WESTERX NEBRASKA
fancy ; Amanda, who died in infancy ; Lydia,
who is the widow of Herman Anderson;
Emily, who Hves at Genoa, Nebraska : George,
who is deceased: Julia J., who is Mrs. Nel-
son ; Annie, a twin sister, who died aged two
and a half years. Gerhard, who is in the
greenhouse business at Denver ; Albert, who is
a farmer near Genoa; Helga, who lives in
Sweden; John, who is a merchant at Hult,
Sweden ; and Edith, who died when nine years
old. The parents of Mrs. Nelson died at
Hult, Sweden.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were born three
sons and two daughters, namely : Frances, who
is the wife of Reuben Dawson, a farmer north
of Bushnell, and they have a little daughter,
Dorothy; Hazel, who died when fifteen years
old ; Wayne I., who is associated in business
with his father; Morris, who is a fanner
north of Bushnell ; and Leland, who is at-
tending school. Mr. Nelson and his family
belong to the Lutheran church. He belongs to
the Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World,
the Woodmen of America and the Royal.
Neighbors. Mr. Nelson is one of the coun-
ty's far-sighted, trustworthy business men.
EDWARD L. ROLPH, M. D., physician
and surgeon at Kimball, a man of wide pro-
fessional experience, was born at Chautauqua
Lake, New York, in 1859, a son of Lyman D.
and Willoughby (Crandall) Rolph, the latter
of whom is deceased, but the father of Dr.
Rolph survives and resides at Pender, in Thur-
ston county, Nebraska.
Edward L. Rolph comes of old American
stock, the family name, properly Rolfe, belong-
ing to early Virginia histors' tracing back to
the marriage of the young Englishman Rolfe
to Pocahontas. Like many names, the change
of spelling came about for reasons now lost
to the family, and for generations back the
name has been Rolph. Dr. Rolph enjoyed su-
perior educational advantages in his native
state and secured his medical training at Louis-
ville, Kentucky. He engaged first in practice
in South Dakota, in 1894 locating at Pender,
in Thurston county, Nebraska, and it was dur-
ing his years of professional work in eastern
Nebraska that he so endeared himself to the
Winnebago Indians, that they conferred on
him the greatest mark of confidence and es-
teem, making him a member of their tribe.
In 1909 Dr. Rolph went to Old Mexico, and
in 1916 came to Kimball.
In 1894 Dr. Rolph was married to Miss
Edith E. Stebbins, of Pender, Nebraska. Al-
though Dr. and Mrs. Rolph have had no chil-
dren of their own, that has not prevented their
having young life about them, for out of the
goodness of their hearts they have given shelter
and parental affection to several orphan chil-
dren. An adopted daughter is no longer
living, but an adopted son has grown to fine
young manhood and during the great war was
in military training at Camp Dodge. Dr. and
Mrs. Rolph are members of the Methodist
church. He belongs to the Masonic fratern-
ity and Mrs. Rolph is a member of the order
of the Eastern Star.
CHARLES E. JACOBY, proprietor of the
only photographic studio at Kimball, has been
in this line of business ever since he left school.
Mr. Jacoby was born at Wilton Junction, Iowa,
in 1870, where he was reared. His parents
died in Iowa.
Charles E. Jacoby was educated in Musca-
tine county and is a graduate of the public
schools. From boyhood he manifested certain
artistic tastes, and when nineteen years old,
left to his own choice of profession, he de-
cided to learn photography. He established
his first studio at Sioux Rapids, Iowa, where
he continued twelve years in the business. In
1910 he came to Kimball county, Nebraska,
homesteaded and lived on his land until 1914,
when he came to Kimball, erected a building
suitable for studio purposes and occupies a
large part of it for photographic development.
He has kept fully abreast of the time in the
photographic field, and his rooms are equipped
with all necessary instruments and high priced
lenses, together with draperies and settings that
may be found in establishments of this kind in
metropolitan cities.
In 1894 Mr. Jacoby was united in marriage
to Miss Pearl Noll, of Wilton Junction, Iowa,,
where she was born in 1872. The father of
Mrs. Jacoby is deceased but her mother sur-
vives and lives at Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby have had four children,
namely : Esther, Maurine, Phyllis and Charles
E. Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church. While living in
Iowa Mr. Jacoby was active in the Odd Fel-
low and Rebekah lodges. He owns property
at Kimball which includes his studio build-
ings and a handsome modern residence.
CHARLES J. OLDAKER, who is a widely
known representative and worthy citizen of
Kimball county, has been a resident of Nebras-
ka for many years, and owns a large body of
richly cultivated land in Kimball county. He
was born August 10, 1860, in Tohnson coun-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
181
ty, Iowa, where his parents were farming peo-
ple. His father died in September, 1896, and
his mother in September, 1916.
Charles J. Oldaker obtained his education in
the country schools and remained in Iowa un-
til he was twenty-one years old, when he went
to Bozeman, Montana, with the Northern Pa-
cific Railroad. He tried farming in the vicin-
ity of Bozeman for a year, then gave it up and
went back to Iowa. Later on he again left
Iowa and came on a visit to Frontier county,
Nebraska, went then into Colorado and took up
a pre-emption claim and proved up. In 1887
he came to Kimball county and, pleased with
the aspect of the country and the fine people
he met among the earlier settlers, decided to
remain, and in the following season homestead-
ed a half section located nine miles north of
Kimball. To his first purchase he added and
now owns an entire section. Mr. C)ldaker re-
mained on his farm until 1917, when he came
to Kimball to live, having a comfortable resi-
dence here and an unlimited number of friends.
Mr. Oldaker was married at Bicknell, Ne-
braska, to Miss Clara C. Kennedy, and they
have the following children : Rov C, born
April 19. 1889 : Elmo, born April 18J891 : Tohn
G., bom May 31, 1892 ; Fay, born July 2, 1894 ;
Lola, born July 30, 1896: Clara, born lune 15,
1898; Earl, born June 14, 1902; and Lvnn,
born July 15. 1907. John Gilbert Oldaker of
the above family, is one of the returned heroes
of the great war. He enlisted in the United
States navy on December 11, 1917, was
sent to France and served seven months on
the Flanders front, and was honorably dis-
charged July 10, 1919. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Oldaker belong to the order of Royal High-
landers and Mrs. Oldaker is also chief matron
in the Degree of Honor lodge, and both set
a good example of thrift and foresight by car-
rying life insurance. Mrs. Oldaker was reared
in the Christian church but she attends serv-
ices in the Presbyterian church with her hus-
band, of which religious body he is a member.
He belongs also to the Knights of Pythias.
ALBERT HUBBARD was born in Ran-
dolph, Indiana, December 5, 1862, the son of
Francis and Elizabeth (Meriwether) Hubbard.
His father was a native of Indiana, and his
mother of Delaware. The subject of the sketch
was the second of five children born in this
family, the eldest being a daughter, Lavina E.,
now jiving in Indiana, the wife of Riley Hin-
shaw. Of the others, Ira is a resident of
Scottsblufl' county, Nebraska, and Elza and
Riley live in Indiana. The father was a farm-
er and was killed crossing a railroad track
.A.ugust 19, 1913, at eighty years of age; the
mother died May 25, 1890, at about fifty years
of age.
Albert was educated in the public schools of
Indiana. After completing his schooling he
took up farming in his native state, but heard
the call of the great undeveloped West and
came to Nebraska in 1886. In October of this
year he took up a preemption claim and proved
up on same. He then took up a homestead of
160 acres in ScottsblufT county, developed and
improved it through the years of pioneering,
clerking in a store in Gering several years, and
now (jwiis 160 ,-icrt> of well improved, irrigated
land, <.{ thr kind that is fast coming to be
known as the most valuable because the most
productive land in the entire United States.
On February 15, 1894, Mr. Hubbard was
united in marriage with Gertrude England, and
to their married life has come the blessing of
four children, all of whom are living at home.
They are : Emery O., Edna V., Ralph, Waldo,
and Laura E.
Mr. Hubbard is a member of the Christian
church, and is a Republican in politics. He
stands high in the estimation of his fellow cit-
izens, and is bound by the close ties of sym-
pathy and common experience with the early
settlers of this community who experienced
along with him the struggles and trials of liv-
ing in a new country during the period of
drouth and hard times before the magical
power of irrigation was invoked to turn the
desert into a garden.
JAMES W. BOGLE, for many years one
of Kimball county's enterprising" and progres-
sive business men, now lives comfortably re-
tired at Bushnell, in which city he owns a
large amount of valuable realty. He is a na-
tive of Indiana, born, and reared, in Washing-
ton county, July 13, 1849. Both parents have
long since passed out of life.
James W. Bogle attended the country
schools in boyhood and grew up on a farm.
In 1871 he left Indiana and went to Jasper
county. Illinois, working there as a farmer
for two years and then found better oppor-
tunities in Clay county, where he remained six
years. Having a natural desire to see more
of the great country in which it had been his
good fortune to be born, he kept making his
way westward, going from Clay county, Illi-
nois, to Ringgold county, Iowa, and six
months afterward reached Missouri. Mr.
Bogle engaged in farming in Missouri for a
year and a half, but in 1879 came to Nebras-
ka, located in Gosper county, took a home-
stead and tree claim of a quarter section of
182
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
land, settled down to its development and im-
provement, during the first two years living
in a sod house, which afforded a great contrast
to his modern residence in Bushnell. When he
left his farm and came to Bushnell he went
into the mercantile business, being a pioneer
here in this line and continued for some years
and then sold his stock but still owns his fine
brick building, in which are located a number
of other business firms. Mr. Bogle has shown
great business foresight in his investments in
land since he came to Nebraska and owns ex-
tensive tracts, including four hundred acres
in Gosper county and tracts in Kimball county
aggregating fourteen hundred and eighty
acres.
In 1874 Mr. Bogle was united in marriage
to Miss Mary C. Barnett, who was born in
Washington county, Indiana, a daughter of
Martin ]\I. and Martha Elizabeth Barnett.
The mother of ]\Irs. Bogle died in Indiana in
1860 but the father survived until April, 1891,
moving to Missouri in 1889 and engaging in
farmmg there. To IMr. and Mrs. Bogle the fol-
lowing children were born : George D., who re-
sides with his parents : John F., who is a farm-
er near Bushnell ; Lauretta, who lives near
Nampa, Idaho ; Airs. Eva May Meyerhoeffer,
who lives in Gosper county ; Thomas Leander,
who is. a rancher near Bushnell : Freddy, who
was born September 12. 1886, died February
17, 1887 : Laura Alice, who resides at Bushnell ;
and Charles L.. who conducts a general store
at Bushnell. While Mr. Bogle has never been
unduly active in politics, he has always been
an upright, forward-going citizen and has not
neglected any of the responsibilities of good
citizenship. Both he and wife are members
of the Christian church, and benevolent move-
ments of every kind find them interested and
helpful when possible.
DAVID R. READ. — One of the substan-
tial and prominent men of Bushnell, whose
life story is filled with interest, because it
tells of worthy effort bountifully rewarded, is
David R. Read, now living retired in this
beautiful little city. He may well be classed a
first citizen, as he was one of the pioneer set-
tlers of the hamlet of Orkney, which was the
original site of Bushnell.
Mr. Read was born in Henrj' county, Mis-
souri, in 1860. His parents were Joseph T.
and Mary Anna (Gilbert) Read, the former
of whom was born in Tennessee and the latter
in Pennsylvania. The mother died in 1893
and the father came to Scottsbluft' county, Ne-
braska, and died there in 1917. Mr. Read ob-
tained his schooling in Henry county, Missouri.
The Civil War undoubtedly had its changing
eft'ect on the fortunes of the family and he
was not very old when he made his way to
Kansas. He remained in that state for five
years, and afterward lived in Nebraska and
Missouri until 1906. He had met with finan-
cial misfortune before this and when he reach-
ed Kimball county in that year, his capital
amounted to $22.65. which he had obtained
by selling a cow. He took a homestead of
four hundred and eighty acres in the north-
eastern part of what is now the Bushnell set-
tlement, then borrowed money and sent for
his family. Times were hard during the next
two years but through the helpful assistance
of a most estimable wife he made headway.
While he worked in the town, Mrs. Read took
care of the children and the affairs on the
homestead, thus holding down the claim.
From their present position of affluence, it may
seem almost impossible to believe the diffi-
cult things they accomplished in those early
days, when they had to carry all water used
a distance of two miles, and when coal gave
out, gathered buft'alo chips on the prairie to
use as fuel. After Mr. Read had proved up
on his homestead he sold it to advantage and
invested it in town property, and now owns
one of the finest cement block buildings in the
city, the first floor of which is used as a
bank.
Mr. Read married Miss Willie Felts, and
they had two sons : Ernest, who lives in
Nevada ; and Wm. T., who lives at Stanberry.
Missouri. Twenty-three years ago he married
Zora Van Gundy, daughter of George and
Ruth (Minnick) Van Gundy, who were na-
tives of Indiana, but Mrs. Read was born in
Iowa. They have one son, Arthur T., who
lives at Bushnell. Mr. Read has never been
inclined toward great activity in politics, but
he has always been a good citizen, and one
proof of this may be cited in the fact that
he not only invested in property but when the
government called on loyal citizens to help, he
bought $600 worth of Liberty bonds. Both
he and wife are members of the Christian
church. While living at Cameron, Missouri,
he was an active member of Star Hope Lodge
No. 182, Odd Fellows, and belonged also to
the order of Patriarchs at the same place.
FRANK G. TANNER, who is a representa-
tive citizen of Scottsbluft' county and a success-
ful general farmer, has been a resident of Ne-
braska for thirty-two years. He is a native
of Illinois and was bom in Kankakee countv.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
183
July 24, 1864. His parents- were E. M. and
Helen (Haskell) Tanner. The father was
born in the state of New York, while the moth-
er's people were of New England and she was
born in Connecticut. Of the three sons and
one daughter in the family, two sons are liv-
ing, F. G. and H. C, the latter Ijeing a resi-
dent of Wyoming.
Mr. Tanner obtained his education in the
public schools of Guthrie county, Iowa, and
remained at home until 1887. when he came
to Nebraska and homesteaded in what is now
Scottsbluff county, his eighty acres, on which
he still resides, being located three miles east
of Scottsbluff. Mr. Tonner has done well
since he came to Nebraska and now owns two
hundred and forty acres of irrigated land. His
home place is well improved, his stock is
high grade and all his farm industries are
carried on according to modern methods.
In 1899 Mr. Tanner was united in marriage
to Miss Marj' Ferguson, who is a daughter of
James Ferguson, one of the early settlers.
Mr. and Mrs. Tanner have the following chil-
drne : Cassius. Lawrence, Grace, Myron and
Willow. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner belong to the
Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he
is a Republican.
CORIE J. HAIN. — The young man to
whom an easy life appeals should not locate in
an arid section of country as was a part
of Scottsbluff county when C. J. Hain came
here, but neither should such a young man
adopt farming as a vocation. The men who
have been successful in Nebraska have been
workers with a large natural endowment of
common sense. In coming here such men have
expected pioneer hardship and have taken
pride in overcoming the most discouraging con-
ditions. Mr. Hain came to Scottsbluff coun-
ty with limited capital but is now the owner of
one of the finest farms in this section.
C. J. Hain was born at Lake City, in Cal-
houn county, Iowa, June 11, 1868, and is a
son of Elias and Laura E. Hain, the former
of whom settled in early life in Iowa and died
there at the age of seventy years. The latter
died when aged thirty-five years. Mr. Hain
has seven brothers and one sister. He obtained
a good public school education and has been
engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life.
When he came to Scottsbluff county in 1906 he
homesteaded and his farm of one hundred and
forty acres lies on section 24 town 23-54, thir-
teen miles distant from the city of Scottsbluff.
One of the greatest drawbacks to comfortable
living when Mr. Hain settled here, was a lack
of water, and for the first six months he was
obliged to haul all the water used a distance of
a half mile. By that time he had a well dug
and with irrigation project well under way,
there is little danger of this beautiful and na-
turally fertile section of country ever again
suffering seriously from drouth. Mr. Hain
has added to his possessions and he now has
full three hundred acres, on which he carries
on general farming. His improvements are
adequate and substantial and all his surround-
ings indicate thrift and plenty.
In Pottawatomie county. Kansas, Mr. Hain
was married to Miss Flora Ettlinger. who was
liorn in Kansas. They have had the following
children : Raymond, whose homestead farm
is located near that of his father in Scotts-
bluff' county ; Cecil, who lives on his homestead
in Wyoming; Mary, who has taken a home-
stead in Wyoming; Alvin, who lives at home;
and Bessie, Edna, Orrie and Archie, all of
whom are in school ; and Effie Leona, who died
when aged eighteen months. Mr. and Mrs.
Hain are members of the Baptist church. Mr.
Hain has never desired public office and is an
independent voter.
G. F. HAAS. — The financial interests of
Minatare, Nebraska, are well taken care of by
stable and honorable business men here, the
Minatare Bank being a trustworthy institu-
tion conducted along conservative lines by men
of known probity and high commercial stand-
ing.
Mr. Haas was born in Shelby county, Iowa,
February 5, 1876, a son of Frank and Eliza-
beth Haas. The father was born in Switzer-
land and was brought by his parents to the
United States when three years old. He grew
up in Wisconsin and was married there, and
in 1872 started with his wife for Western Ne-
braska but never reached their proposed loca-
tion. When some distance on the way their
party was overtaken by a band of savage In-
dians who were so threatening that the trav-
elers turned back and Mr. and Mrs. Haas set-
tled in Iowa and the father still resides on his
farm in vShelby county. G. F. Haas was reared
there, attended the public schools and after
graduating from the Shelby high school, went
to Omaha and completed a business course in a
commercial college. In March, 1909 he came
to Minatare, Nebraska, and in association with
S. K. Warrick purchased the bank in which
they have been interested ever since. Their
success has been phenomenal. They have in-
creased the original capital of $5,000 to
$25,000, and the $40,000 to $350,000 deposits.
184
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Mr. Haas is also a stockholder in the First
National Bank of Scottsbluff.
On June 25, 1906, Mr. Haas was united in
marriage to Miss Evelyn E. Witter, who was
born at Woodbine, Iowa, April 15, 1878, who
is a daughter of Parry and Hattie Witter, who
are natives of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Haas have
one daughter, Frances E., an attractive little
maiden of nine years. The family belongs to
the Methodist E'piscopal church. Mr. Haas is
an independent voter in national affairs, but
not from lack of interest but because he often
feels that he can rely on his own trained pre-
ceptions in regard to men and their probable
reactions in times of national emergency.
There are few men who make a closer study
of human nature than bankers. Mr. Haas has
been identified with both the Masons and Odd
Fellows for many years.
ADAM WALKER, who has proved a good
citizen and has done exceptionally well in
business since coming to the United States in
1906, still naturally takes a great deal of in-
terest in his old home in Russia, but his in-
terests are now mainly centered in Nebraska.
He was bom in Central Russia, August 17,
1879. His parents were Adam and Catrina
Walker, both of whom died in Russia, the
father when seventy-three years old and the
mother when aged fifty-five years.
When Adam Walker was twenty-seven years
old he came to the United States with the in-
tention of becoming a farmer. His father had
been a small shopkeeper but Adam desired
greater opportunity and believing he could find
it in America, left Russia and the other mem-
bers of his family behind. After landing on
the soil of the great United States, he came di-
rectly to Nebraska and for seven years worked
at Lincoln. In 1913 he came to Scotfsbluff
county, by 1917 was able to buy one hundred
and sixty acres of good land, and to the de-
velopment and improvement of this property
he has ever since devoted himself. He has a
fine place here now, being not far from Scotts-
bluff where he has market facilities, and few
farms show more careful tillage. He carries
on general farming and raises some stock.
Mr. Walker was married to Christina Hurst,
who was bom in Russia and was brought
by her father, Peter Hurst, to the United
States when two years old. He people at
present are in Russia, having twice visited
the United States but make their home in the
old country. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have six
children, namely : Marie, Carl, Reinhold, Flor-
ence, Esther and Rudolph, all of whom will
receive the best of educational advantages.
Mr. and Mrs. Walker belong to the Lutheran
church.
MAX SCHROEDER, who owns some of
the most valuable farm property in Scotts-
bluff county, has been a farmer and stock-
man ever since he reached man's estate,
and has made such practical application of his
knowledge that he is one of the county's most
substantial agriculturists, although not yet in
middle life. Mr. Schroeder was born in
Saunders county, Nebraska, ]\Iarch 1, 1883.
The parents of Mr. Schroeder, Henry and
Tillie Schroeder, were born in Germany. The
mother died at the age of fifty-five years but
the father survives and notwithstanding a
life of hard work bears well his seventy-seven
years. He came to the United States in 1865
and prior to coming to Nebraska spent some
time in New York. Pennsylvania and Illinois.
After reaching this state he homesteaded in
Saunders county.
Max Schroeder grew up in Saunders coun-
ty and attended the public schools. He assisted
his father on the pioneer homestead when
many hardships beset the early settlers, and
afterward became a farmer on his own ac-
count. In 1916 he came to Scottsbluff county
and bought a quarter section of land, in 1917
bought a second quarter section, and in 1918
bought his last tract of eighty acres. He car-
ries on general farming and makes feeding
cattle a feature. His land is situated on sec-
tion 26 town 22-53, and there are few farms
in the county that have been better improved.
Mr. Schroeder has common sense ideas in his
work, providing the latest improved machin-
ery and appliances for carrying on the same,
and in consequence is able to take from his
land much more than the less progressive
farmer can.
In Saunders county, on June 9, 1904, Mr.
Schroeder was united in marriage to Miss
Mintie Clouse, whose father, Calvin Clouse,
was born in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs.
Schroeder have three children, namely: Ce-
cil, Evelyn and Harris. The family belongs
to the Aiethodist Episcopal church. In poli-
tics Mr. Schroeder is a staunch Republican.
He takes interest in the county's development,
lends his influence to the betterment of the
public schools and favors measures looking to
improvements in regard to public roads, but
has never consented to hold office. He be-
longs to the order of Modern Woodmen of
America.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
185
ALONZO THURAIAN. — Practical indus-
try, wisely and vigorously applied, seldom
fails of attaining success, and the career of
Alonzo Thurman, now one of the leading
farmers of Scottsbluff county, is but another
proof of this statement. When he started out
in life he had but few advantages but a prac-
tical education to assist him along the road to
success, but his diligence and judicious man-
agement have brought him ample success as a
reward for his labors.
Alonzo Thurman was born in Knox county,
Illinois, May 29. 1864, the son of Wesley and
Martha (Denison) Thurman; they both were
natives of the Buckeye state. They had a fam-
ily of seven children : Sylvester, deceased ; Ari-
zona, who married Joseph Casper, lives in
Kansas; Alonzo, the subject of this review;
Sheridan, a farmer living seven miles north of
Scottsbluff; Dorothy, deceased; Lill>'. the wife
of George W'ason, resides in llHnois. and Ar- ■
thur who lives in Idaho. Wesley Thurman
carried on a general farming business in Illi-
nois where his family were reared. Alonzo
grew up in his large family used to the give
and take that exists where boys are growing up
together and thus early became self-reliant and
able to hold his own in the youthful affairs of
life. He attended the school near his home and
thus gained a good practical foundation in an
educational way, which became of great value
to him in his business relations in later life.
After his school days were over, the j^oung man
decided upon agricultural pursuits as a life's
vocation, as it was a business he had learned
practically on the farm, with his father's super-
vision, until Wesley Thurman died when the
boy was seventeen years old, then he began to
work out the daily problems for himself, and
that he was able to do so remarkably well is
attested by the fact that by his own unaided
efforts he has accumulated a comfortable com-
petency. Mr. Thurman remained in Illinois
until he was twenty-four years of age, but that
state was well settled up, land was high in
value, and so he determined to avail himself of
the homestead plan of acquiring land and with
this end in view came to Nebraska in 1888,
locating on a claim in Cheyenne county, which
at that time embraced the territory now known
as Banner county, as the latter was carved
from Cheyenne and erected into one of the
divisions of the state later. He proved up on
his homestead and at once began excellent and
permanent improvements that greatly enhanced
the value of the land, erected a comfortable
home and good farm buildings as soon as his
capital permitted and was soon established as
one of the progressive and prosperous agricul-
turists of the district. In 1903 he sold his
homestead and went to northern Iowa for five
years, in 1908 returning and buying his present
place. Mr. Thurman made a good choice in
picking out the location of his claim as all his
land today is under irrigation and on his 160
acres under ditch he is able to raise many times
the amount of crops that he could on unirri-
gated soil. In 1914 he bought eighty acres
adjoining. His land is now worth $400 an
acre. From first locating in this section he has
advocated improved methods and used the lat-
est and most modern agricultural implements
in his farm work, making it much easier to
conduct operations than it was years ago. To-
day he recalls vividly the trials and struggles
which the early settlers of this county encoun-
tered in contending for victory over the untried
forces of a new land, and notwithstanding the
anxiety and toil imposed, looks back to those
days as among the happiest of his life — a view
that is fully shared by the other members of
the family. He makes comparison between the
high prices paid farm labor today, with what
he as a young man first earned when he went
to work just after leaving school and in the
realm of retrospection, Mr. Thurman is duly
impressed with the fact that "the world moves,"
and waits upon no man.
In 1896, Mr. Thurman married Miss Eva
Palmer, a native of Iowa, who came to Ne-
braska when very young with her parents. Six
children have come to brighten the Thurman
home: Wesley, Stella, lona, Lola and Viola, all
at home, and \'era, who died at the age of six-
teen. The Thurman home is one of the most
delightful in the Gering valley and they keep
open house to their host of warm friends. Mr.
Thurman is a Republican in his political views
while his fraternal relations are with the Mod-
ern ^^'oodmen of America.
ROY SCHAFFER, who is one of Scotts-
bluft"'s enterprising young men and successful
farmers, was born October 12, 1892, near
Johnson, in Nemaha county, Nebraska. His
father, Henry Schaft'er, was born in Illinois
and as a young man came to Nemaha county
Nebraska, and at Johnson was married to
Miss Flora Able. The family home continued
at Johnson, where Mr. Schaffer engaged in
farming until 1909, when he came to Scotts-
bluff' county and bought eighty acres on which
he yet resides.
Roy Schaff'er obtained a public school edu-
cation in Nemaha county. He accompanied
his father to Scottsbluff' county in 1909 and is
engaged in farming. He carries on general
farming, making beet growing his main crop.
HISTORY OF \\ESTERN NEBRASKA
and rents eighty acres, being situated within
four and three-quarters miles of Scottsbluff.
The home farm is well improved, the father of
Mr. Schaffer attending to that as soon as
the place came into his possession.
At Scottsbluff on December 10, 1915, Roy
Schafifer was united in marriage to Miss Tessa
Harrison, who was born at Fort Collins, Colo-
rado, who is a daughter of Bert and Minnie
(Yocum) Harrison, who were born in Mis-
souri. Mr. and Mrs. Schafifer have one daugh-
ter, Jean, who has passed her second birth-
day. The family belongs to the Presbyterian
church. Mr. Schaffer is not active in politics
but takes an intelligent interest in local mat-
ters, particularly those pertaining to agricul-
tural affairs, and voices approval of the high
officials of the state who are seeking protec-
tive legislation along this line.
MANUEL G. WILSON, who is a success-
ful general farmer and respected citizen of
Scottbsluff county, Nebraska, was born in In-
diana, February 13, 1871. His parents were
Henry and Julia Wilson, natives of northern
Indiana. The father was a farmer all his life,
first in Indiana and later in Nebraska. There
were four children in his family.
M. G. \^'ilson was reared in Indiana and
attended the public schools there. His entire
life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits
and since 1914 he has been a farmer in Scotts-
bluff county, Nebraska. He owns eighty
acres of irrigated land on section 25 town
22-54, which is well improved. Mr. Wilson
has no particular specialty, the natural soil,
with irrigation, producing abundant crops of
all kinds.
In 1900 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage
to Miss Fay Gal ford, who was born in Iowa,
February' 28, 1880. Her parents now reside
at Burwell, Nebraska, where they are highly
respected. Mr. and Mrs. \\'ilson have one
son, Norman, who lives with his parents. Mr.
Wilson has never desired political office and
takes only a moderate interest in public af-
fairs except as they aiTect the farmers. He
votes independently.
THEODORE CARLSON, who is one of
the representative citizens and successful
farmers of Scottsbluff county, has spent the
greater part of his life in the United States
and many years of it in Nebraska. He was
born in Sweden, November 9, 1866.
The parents of Mr. Carlson were Carl E.
and Christina Louisa Carlson. The father was
born in Sweden in 1830 and was a farmer all
his life. The mother was born in Sweden in
1843 and still lives there.
After his schooldays were over and when
seventeen years of age, Theodore Carlson left
his native land for America. It required some
courage to thus start out for himself to make
his way in a strange land, but he soon found
good friends in Iowa, where he lived from
1883 until 1888, when he came to Nebraska.
He located first in Banner county, homestead-
ed there and kept his quarter section of land
until o good business opportunity came to sell
at a profit. Realizing that only irrigation was
needed to make land in Scottsbluff county won-
derfully productive, he had the good judgment
to invest here, securing one hundred and sev-
enty-two acres, the entire body now being irri-
gated and worth many times the price he paid
for it. In early days he faced the hardships
that met all settlers here, but Mr. Carlson is
• not the type of man to be easily discouraged
and his persistency has been well rewarded.
He has everything very comfortable about him
in the way of substantial buildings, and if he
so desired, might take more ease that he
does, but he has always been a hard worker
and so continues.
Mr. Carlson married Miss Mary Peterson,
who was born in Sweden in 1872. Her parents
were also natives of Sweden. Her father came
to the United States in 1886, was a farmer in
Nebraska and he died here. Mr. and Mrs.
Carlson have had five children, four of whom
died in infancy, the one survivor, Carl, living
at home and assisting his father. The family
belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Carlson is a Republican in politics and
takes considerable interest in public affairs as
an intelligent citizen must, but has never been
wiling to accept any public office. He is widely
known and the entire family is held in high
esteem.
GUY C. McPROUD, who is a general farm-
er in Scottsbluff" county, owning one hundred
■and forty acres of irrigated land, came here
in 1906 and homesteaded one hundred and
sixty acres. He was born at Farmland, in
Randolph county, Indiana, December 7, 1858.
His parents, Joseph and Sarah (Taylor) Mc-
Proud, moved to Kansas in 1856 when he
was young, and they spent the rest of their
lives on a farm there.
Mr. McProud attended school through boy-
hood but after his schooldays were over, went
to work on a farm and has followed agri-
cultural pursuits ever since and has been very
successful. In early days he went through
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
187
the usual pioneer hardships and remembers
well when all these productive fields suffered
every season from lack of water. He carries
on general farming and pays some attention to
stock.
On December 27, 1883, in Kansas Mr. AIc-
Proud was married to Miss Eva Baker, who
was born in Kansas, August 12, 1864 and is a
daughter of Ephraim and Ellen (Sweeney)
Baker, who were farming people and now de-
ceased. Mr. and Mrs. McProud have had chil-
dren as follows : Nellie, who lives in Mis-
souri ; Ross, who operates the homestead ; Gar-
nett, who lives in Kansas ; Hazel, who lives at
home; Alta, who lives in the state of Wash-
ington; and two who are deceased. Mr. Mc-
Proud has given his children every advantage
within his power and they are all well educat-
ed and the most of them are married. He
and wife belong to the Presbyterian church.
He is an independent voter and has never
accepted any public office except membership
on the school board. Mr. McProud is known
among his neighbors as an honest, upright man,
one whose word is as good as his bond. He
organized the first school district in this neigh-
borhood and school was held in his house. He
had to go as far as the Platte River to get
children in sufficient numbers to organize the
district.
OSCAR A. CARLSON, whose well im-
proved, irrigated farm is situated on Section
18 town 12, Scottsbluft' county, has been a
resident of the United States for thirty-five
years and has prospered through industry
and good management. He was born Novem-
ber 31, 1860, in Sweden. His parents were
Carl and Johanna (Anderson) Carlson, both
of whom are deceased. Of their three chil-
dren Oscar A. was the youngest.
Mr. Carlson remained in his native land
until he was twenty-five years old. There he
attended school and assisted his father who
was a general farmer. In 1884 he came to
the United States, and in 1892 his parents came
also. For eight years Mr. Carlson worked on
farms in Kansas, helping through many bounti-
ful harvests in that productive state. He
watched his opportunity, however, to secure a
farm of his own and after coming to Scotts-
bluft' county, Nebraska, in 1897 homesteaded
forty-six acres. He has remained here, con-
tinually improving his place and now has a
valuable property and a comfortable and at-
tractive home.
Mr. Carlson was married to Miss Ellen An-
derson, who was born in Sweden, June 24,
1867, the ceremom' taking place in Nebraska,
in 1896. The parents of Mrs. Carlson never
came to the United States and still live on
their farm in Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson
have two children, namely : Edwin and Anton,
both of whom reside at home. The family
belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
They have a wide acquaintance and are very
highly esteemed in their neighbi^rhoj '.
ENOCH BOWMAN, who is one of the
representative men of Scottsbluff" county and
a prominent farmer, came to the eastern part
of Nebraska and homesteaded as early as 1883.
He was born in Boone county, Iowa, March 4,
1855. His parents were Jeremiah and Eliza-
beth (Brown) Bowman, the former of whom
was born in Pennsylvania, August IS, 1829,
and the latter in Kentucky.
Enoch Bowman attended the district schools
in early years and afterward assisted on the
home farm. A natural desire to own land of
his own, led him to come early to Nebraska,
and in spite of many hardships that faced all
the pioneers, he has never wished to leave the
state. In 1906 he came to Scottsbluft' county
and has a fine, irrigated farm of one hundred
and sixty acres, on which he has placed sub-
stantial improvements. He carries en general
farming and deals in live stock.
In Nebraska, in 1889, Mr. Bowman was
united in marriage to Miss Ida Harter, who
was born in Indiana. Her parents were David
and Mary (Weeks) Harter, the former of
whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter
in Connecticut. For many years Mr. Harter
was a general farmer in Indiana and both he
and wife died there. To Mr. and Mrs. Bow-
man ten children have been bom, namely:
Ethel, who is the wife of L. L. Hewitt, lives
at Scottsbluft; William E., who is his father's
right hand man on the farm ; and Edward,
Kittie, Mary, Bertha, Ella, Herbert, Bernice
and Gordon, all of whom are at home. Mr.
Bowman and his family belong to the Metho-
dist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Re-
publican. He has never cared for public of-
fice but takes a close interest in both outside
and local aft'airs and is particularly concerned
in the matter of public schools. For many
years he has belonged to the Odd Fellows and
is a member also of the Order of Modern
Woodmen.
DANIEL BOWMAN, whose large, well
improved farm is situated on section 17 town
12 Scottsbluft county, is considered one of the
successful agricuhurists of this section, and
188
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
he is also one of the town's representative
men. He has served on the school board for
a number of years and his opinion is very often
consulted in regard to public matters.
Daniel Bowman was born in Boone county,
Iowa, July 16, 1870. His parents were Jere-
miah and Elizabeth (Brown) Bowman, the
former of whom was born in Pennsylvania,
August 18, 1829, and the latter in Kentucky.
Mr. Bowman received his education in Iowa.
In 1907 he came to Scottsbluff county, Nebras-
ka, homesteaded. and now has an irrigated
farm of one hundred and five acres that would
command a high price should he place it on
the market. Air. Bowman has improved his
land with substantial buildings of every kind
and his surroundings show thrift and good
management. He carries on general farming
and raises stock for his own use.
In Nebraska, in 1894, Mr. Bowman was
united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Linton,
who was born in Otoe county, Nebraska, Feb-
ruary 19, 1876. Her parents were James and
Elizabeth (McNiel) Linton, now deceased,
who were farming people in Otoe county. Mr.
and Mrs. Bowman have had the following
named children: Cec"' who is a farmer in
Scottsbluff county; Maurita, who is married
and lives in Colorado ; Harold, who assists
his father on the farm; and Merle, Allen
Stanley and Delbert, all of whom are at home.
Mr. Bowman belongs to the order of Modem
Woodmen.
MONROE J. REED. — When a man
chooses any vocation in life it is satisfactory
indeed to find that his judgment has not been
at fault but that success has rewarded his
earnest efforts. While there is no business
so important as farming, not every young man
can make it profitable when he leaves the home
farm where everything is familiar, and starts
out for himself. When Monroe J. Reed, how-
ever, came to Scottsbluff' county, from his
father's farm in Sarpy county, he found he had
been well trained and the eff'ects of this train-
ing are seen in the excellent condition of his
homestead, which is situated on section 17
town 22-53, no great distance from a fine
market at Scottsbluff.
Monroe J. Reed was born in Clearfield
county, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1873. He
is a son of James Mitchell and Mary E.
(Read) Reed, both of whom were born in
Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1880 they
moved to Sarpy county, Nebraska and engaged
in farming for the rest of their lives. Mon-
roe J. Reed obtained his education in the pub-
lic schools. He was reared on his father's
farm and from there came to Scottsbluff coun-
ty in 1910 and homesteaded. Almost all the
substantial improvements which mark the
place as the property of a careful owner, were
put here by Mr. Reed. His land is all irri-
gated and abundant crops result from his
efficient methods of farming.
In 1919 Mr. Reed was married to Mrs.
Minnie (Van Meter) Meyers, who was born
in Illinois. December 4, 1885. and was care-
fully educated in Nebraska. She is a daugh-
ter of Henry and Man- (Hulbut) Van Meter,
her father being a substantial farmer in Hitch-
cock county, Nebraska, where both parents
have spent their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Reed
are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. In politics he has always been identi-
fied with the Republican party.
WTLLIAAI BOSTON MEEK, who is one
of Scottsbluff' county's successful self-made
men, finds himself quite ready to believe stories
often told the traveler through this section,
of tlie pioneer hardships of seventeen years
ago. Like many other young men, he came
here with more courage and ambition than
capital but all these were necessary during the
early years. He came before the great irri-
gation projects were under way, and deserves
credit as do others, because of the determina-
tion and persistency with which he earned the
right to his land. His fine irrigated farm is
enough reward.
W'illiam Boston Meek was bom in Wayne
county, Indiana, June 30, 1888, and is a son
of John William 'and Wilda (Porter) Meek,
the former of whom was born in Indiana,
February 2, 1851, and the latter in the same
state, November 6, 1853. They now live on
their large ranch in Boxbutte county, Ne-
braska. When young Mr. Meek's parents
moved to Morrill' county and he was reared
there and worked on his father's farm until
1892 when he came to Scottsbluff county and
homestead on one hundred and sixty acres.
He then had this large tract of wild, unimprov-
ed land and set about developing it as rapidly
as possible, in the meanwhile reducing his
living expenses to the lowest ebb. It was a long
season of hard work before he had completed
his contract with the government and at times
found it necessary to leave his own farm and
work for others in order to get money to hold
his claim. At first the land was not properly
productive, his crops being iniured on many
occasions by protracted drouths, but since it
is irrigated' an entirely different story may
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
be told. He devotes himself to general farm-
ing and his neighbors call him verv success-
ful. Mr. Meek is not married but he is widely
known and his fellow citizens are all friends.
He belongs to the order of Odd Fellows.
GOTLEIB GRASSMICK, who is an enter-
prising young farmer of Scottsbluft county,
was born April 28, 1887, in Russia, where
he went to school for several years before ac-
companying his parents to the United States.
His father, Carl Grassmick, was born in Rus-
sia and lived there until 1899, when he brought
his wife and children to America. The moth-
er, Mary (Helzer) Grassmick was born in
Russia and now lives in Colorado, aged forty-
five years. The parents landed safely in the
United States and went west to North Da-
kota, where the father homesteaded. Later
he moved to Colorado and died there when
aged sixty-four years.
Gotlieb Grassmick worked on his father's
farm in North Dakota until 1914, when he
came to Scottsblufif county, Nebraska. Here
he is operating a farm of forty acres that be-
longs to his father-in-law, and is doing ex-
ceptionally well. In 1915 he was married to
Katie Hohnstein, who was born in Russia,
November 11, 1894. She is a daughter of
John and Katie (Tellman) Hohnstein, all born
in Russia. Mr. and Mrs. Grassmick have two
children : Esther and Helen.
WILL N. RANDALL is one of the pioneer
settlers who has assisted in demonstrating the
splendid advantages of Scottsblufif county in
the development of the agricultural and live-
stock industry, and his well improved farm
property is situated in section 28, township 23-
55, about seven miles from the city of Scotts-
blufif. Mr. Randall was born at Des Moines,
Iowa, on the 18th of October, 1863, and was
reared and educated in the Hawkeye state,
where he duly availed himself of the advan-
tages of the public schools of the period. He is
a son of Milo M. and Adelia (Roberts) Ran-
dall, the former a native of New York state
and the latter of Vermont. The father, who
was a wagonmaker and cabinetmaker by trade,
became one of the early settlers of Iowa, where
he developed a fine farm property in Polk
county, the same being still in the possession of
the family and the place of abode of the ven-
erable widow, who celebrated in 1919 the
eighty-fourth anniversary of her birth, Mr.
Randall having died at the patriarchal age of
ninety-one years. Milo M. Randall was a pio-
neer in the work of his trades in Iowa, but
there he gained his major success through asso-
ciation with farm enterprise. He purchased
the old home farm from a man named Randall,
but no relation, who had obtained the land
from the government, and thus it has changed
ownership only once. In politics he was first
a Whig and later a Republican, and he held
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church,
as diie^ aJMi ills widow. He was long affiliated
with the Alaxmic fraternity and was a man of
sterling character and strong mentality. Of
the six children the eldest, Emma, is deceased;
Will N., of this review, was the next in order
of birth ; Sophrona M. is the wife of Martin
Troup, a prosperous real estate dealer at Max-
well, Iowa ; Charles is a prosperous farmer
near Lander, Wyoming ; Rose is deceased ; and
Cora resides at Ala.xwell, Iowa.
Will X. Randall early gained practical ex-
perience in connection with the work of the
home farm and he continued to be identified
with agricultural enterprise in Iowa until 1886,
when he came to Scottsbluff county, Nebraska,
which was then a part of Cheyenne county.
Here he filed on a homestead of 160 acres and
also on a tree claim, both of which properties
he still owns. He also owns land on the North
Platte river, in the same section of the county,
and the aggregate land holdings of the family
comprise 640 acres, one-half of which is sup-
plied with excellent irrigation facilities. Diver-
sified agriculture and stock-raising have con-
tinuously engaged the attention of Mr. Ran-
dall, and through these basic mediums he has
achieved substantial success, with incidental
status as one of the popular and representative
citizens of his community. He has made good
improvements on his land and the family home
is one of attractive order.
In politics Mr. Randall holds aside from par-
tisan lines and gives his support to men and
measures meeting the approval of his judg-
ment. He is affiliated with the Masonic fra-
ternity, including the Order of the Eastern
Star, in which his wife likewise holds member-
ship, as does she also in the Church of the
Brethren.
The year 1891 recorded the marriage of Mr.
Randall to Miss Margaret Pfoutz, who was
born in Pennsylvania, and they have four chil-
dren: Milo M., who married Christina Hass,
and is one of the progressive exponents of
farm industry in ScottsblufT county, as is also
Ora P., who married Catherine Bear; Ira N.,
who entered the military service in connection
with the late World War and who was sta-
tioned at Camp Funston, Kansas, is now con-
ducting a well equipped farming and cattle
ranch near Du Bois, Wyoming, having married
Mabel Wilson; and Charles Glenmore, who is
farming with his brother at Du Bois, Wyom-
190
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
JOHN HOHNSTEIN, who is one of the
highly respected residents and substantial
farmers of Scottsbhitt county, has been a resi-
dent of the United States since 1904 and of
Scottsblutif county since 1910. He was born in
Russia, January 16, 1873. His parents were
Henry and Lizzie (Schreere) Hohnstein, na-
tives of Russia and good people. The father
was a farmer all his life and died in his na-
tive land when seventy-two years old. and
the mother at the age of sixty-five years.
John Hohnstein grew up on his father's
farm in Russia and had some school train-
ing. From early manhood he had determined
at some time to come to the United States,
but the chance did not present itself until he
was thirty-one years old. He landed in this
great country in 1904 and found plenty of
work and comfortable living on a Kansas
farm, where he remained until 1910, when he
came to Scottsblufl: county. He went to work
again as a farmer and four years later had a
farm of his own, buying eighty acres of land
situated on section 20 town 22-53. This land
is now irrigated and richly productive. He
now owns one hundred and eighty acres. Mr.
Hohnstein has put many substantial improve-
ments on his place and has comfort, plenty,
and is well content.
In Russia, in 1894, Mr. Hohnstein wos mar-
ried to Miss Katie Tellman, who was born in
Russia March 15, 1875. Her aprents were
John and Katie (Loos) Tellman, natives of
Russia. Both parents died on their farm.
The following children have been born to Mr.
Mrs. Hohnstein : Katie, who is the wife of
Gotlieb Grassmick, who is a farmer in Scotts-
bluiif county ; Henry, who assists his father on
the home place ; Maggie, who is the wife of
George Snell, who is a farmer in Scottsbluff
county; Anna, who assists her mother at
home; John, who works for a neighboring
farmer; and George, Christina and Asrey.
Mr. Hohnstein is giving his children every
advantage in his power, and all are doing well.
The family belongs to the Russian church and
Mr. Hohnstein helped to build the first church
of that faith in the county.
53, within easy communication with Scotts-
bluff for market, church or social purposes.
William M. Lackey was born March 17,
1873, in Ontario, Canada. His parents were
Andrew and Eliza (Campbell) Lackey, the
latter of whom survives and lives at Gering,
Nebraska. The father of Mr. Lackey was
born in Ireland and was brought to the Do-
minion of Canada when two years old. tie
grew up on a fami and followed agricultural
pursuits all his life. He was married in Can-
ada and some years aftenvard moved to the
L'nited States and settled in eastern Nebraska
where he bought three hundred and twenty
acres of land. He was a man of sterling char-
acter and was respected wherever known.
William M. Lackey was reared in Ontario
province, Canada, and had the advantage of
good schooling. He chose farming as his vo-
cation and has followed it in a thorough, prac-
tical way that has brought profitable resulis.
He came to Nebraska with his parents when
seven years old and in the spring of 1892
came to Scottsbluff county and homesteaded
one hundred and sixty acres. At the present
time he has his irrigated farm in Scottsbluff
county and in addition owns four hundred
acres in Banner county, range land. Mr.
Lackey devotes himself pretty closely to the
management of his large holdings, has all his
industries well in hand, and undoubtedly is
one of the county's level-headed, competent
farmers.
In 1889 Mr. Lackey was united in marriage
to 'Miss Bertie Jones, a daughter of W. S.
and Mary (Smith) Jones, natives of Illinois.
The mother of Mrs. Lackey is deceased, but
the father is living at Scottsbluff'. To Mr. and
Mrs. Lackey the following children were
born: Ethel, who is the wife of Evan Jones,
lives in Colorado ; Leo, who is deceased ; Win-
nifred, who lives with her parents ; Floyd, who
is in the employ of the government ; and
Charles, Eva, Artist, Fred, Eugene and Lil-
lian. The family belongs to the Methodist
Episcopal church. He is a member of the
district school board but is not unduly active
in politics.
WILLIAM M. LACKEY. — The well im-
proved farms for which Scottsbluff" county is
justly noted, indicate the type of people who
live here, a solid, self-respecting class who
desire comfortable and attractive surroundings
as a part of the enjoyment of life. Such a
farm is the beautiful eighty acres of irrigated
land that is the homestead of William Mitch-
ell Lackey, and it lies on section 21 town 22-
JAMES A. BAXTER, who owns two hun-
dred acres of fine land in Scottsbluff county,
was reared on a farm but for a number of
years was a railroad man before coming here
in 1916. Mr. Baxter was born in Delaware
county, Iowa, October 15, 1882. Extended
mention of the Baxter family will be found
elsewhere in this work.
James A. Baxter remained on his father's
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
191
farm in Iowa until he was twenty-one years
old. He then secured work in Nebraska and
Colorado where the government had inaugu-
rated a great irrigation project. He worked
at ditching in three state, and worked on the
railroad all through Idaho, railroading anu
ditching from Miles City to Spokane and from
Spokane back to Idaho. In 1916 he located
permanently in Scottsblufif county, where he
bought two hundred acres of land, eighty
acres being irrigated. He breeds White Face
cattle and raises eighty head of livestock year-
ly. He has had an oil lease on his home place
for five years and with a one-eighth royalty,
may realize a fortune.
Mr. Baxter was married to Miss Dora Bosh,
a daughter of Henry and Tena Bosh, resi-
dents of Utah. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter have
three children, namely : Donald M., Murray
C, and Marjorie, the eldest being a sturdy
lad of six years, and the youngest yet an in-
fant. Mr. Baxter is a stockholder in the
Globe Life Insurance Company.
WILLIAM T. TENNIS. — It is an inter-
esting story indeed that can be told of early
Nebraska by William T. Tennis, who is one
of Scottsblufif county's worthy and subitan-
tial citizens, for his experience covers the de-
velopment of at least four counties of the
state, and he was an active participant in
many events of historical interest. Mr. Tennis
has been a resident of Nebraska for almost
forty years.
Wilham T. Tennis was born in Marion
county, Iowa, May 4. 1855, a son of John
and Mary (Dawson) Tennis, who were born
in the city of Richmond, Virginia. They
moved to Iowa in 1844 and both died there,
the father when aged forty-seven and the
mother when aged fifty-six years. Mr. Tennis
has three brothers and three sisters, but he is
the only member of the family living in west-
ern Nebraska.
Mr. Tennis had country school opportunities
in Ijoyhood and remained on his parent's farm
until manhood, and in the state of Iowa until
twenty-five years of age. In 1880' he came to
Nebraska and located near Newman Grove, in
Madison county. There were but few settlers
in that locality and the Indian menace was not
yet over, so that within six months he sought
a more satisfactorj' location near Oakdale, in
Antelope county. He lived there four years
and then moved into Sheridan county where
he engaged in farming and cattle raising for
fourteen years and then returned for a iike
interval to Oakdale. Each county possessed
advantages over the other along some lines and
Mr. Tennis made many friends in every sec-
tion in which he settled. In 1914 he came to
Scottsblutt county, where irrigation had in-
creased both the value and price of land. He
bought eighty acres of ditched land and has a
valuable farm property that he devotes to gen-
eral farming and the feeding of cattle and
hogs.
Mr. Tennis was married to Miss Lora Mul-
len, who was born in Iowa, and they have had
the following children : Dalbert, who assists
his father on the home place ; Arthur, who
lives in Oregon; Eliza, whose home is in the
state of Washington ; Maude, who lives in
California ; Percy, who lives near Minatare,
Nebraska ; and Araminta, who died at the
age of twenty-three years. Mr. Tennis and his
family belong to the United Brethren church.
He is an independent voter.
CHARLES BRACKMAN, who is one of
the successful farmers and respected citizens
of Scottsblufif county, was born in Germany
and obtained a practical education in the
schools of his district. He came to the United
States in 1883, and to Scottsbluff county, Ne-
braska, in 1887. He homesteaded one hun-
dred and sixty acres, which he still owns, and
through other purchases has increased his
holdings until he now has two hundred and
forty acres of valuable land. He carries on
a general farming line and is an extensive
raiser of alfalfa.
Mr. Brackman married Alice Holthusen,
who was born in Colorado, and they have chil-
dren as follows : Mrs. Clara Gilbert, who lives
in Scottsblufif county; Edward, who assists
his father on the homestead ; Anna, who is a
school teacher at Morrill ; and Martha, George,
Karl and Alice, all of whom live at home. Mr.
Brackman has never desired political office
but has been interested in maintaining good
schools in district No. 2, and for nine years
has served as a school director.
JAMES CHRISTIAN HANSON, whose
well improved property lies in Scottsbluff
county, Nebraska, where he is widely knowm
and highly respected, was born in Denmark,
October 8, 1856. His parents were Lars and
Ann Hanson, the latter of whom lives in
Idaho, in her eighty-third years. The par-
ents came to the United States and the fath-
er homesteaded in South Dakota. His death
occurred at the age of forty-six years.
I. C. Hanson came to Scottsblufif county
in" 1887 and homesteaded one hundred
192
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
and sixty acres. He has always been en-
gaged in general farming. In early days he
often found it difficult to provide for his fam-
ily as he desired to do, as was a fact with al-
most every other settler in this section at
that time. To "make both ends meet" in
those days required hard work and good busi-
ness management. Mr. Hanson remembers
when, after taking two days to cut, two days
to split and consuming three days to and from
Alliance with his load of sixty-five posts, he
had to accept seven cents apiece for the posts.
Notwithstanding the many hardships of those
early days, Mr. Hanson says that social en-
joyment was not absent and recalls the many
occasions on which the settlers would drive
miles in their lumber wagons to attend some
dance or other gathering, when everyone was
on an equality and a genuine feeling of friend-
ship and good fellowship prevailed. Mr. Han-
son now owns two hundred and twenty acres,
practically all of it being ditched and is num-
bered with the prosperous citizens of the coun-
ts-
Mr. Hanson married Ada L. Roberts, who
was born in Iowa, the ceremony taking place
in Cheyenne county, Nebraska. They have
four children, namely : Mrs. Ethel Fosberg,
who lives in Morrill county ; and Guy J., Clar-
ice and Iv}', all of whom reside at home. Mr.
Hanson has always been a great friend of the
public schools and has served as a school di-
rector. He has never united with any par-
ticular political party but is a good, fair-mind-
ed, intelligent citizen and votes according to
his own judgment.
ROBERT I. FRANKLIN, who is a success-
ful general farmer in ScottsblufT county, has
spent the greater part of his life here and is
well and favorably known over the county.
Mr. Franklin was born in Putnam county,
Missouri, September 30, 1882. Extended
mention of the Franklin family will be found
in this work.
Robert I. Franklin accompanied his parents
to Nebraska in March 1887, and grew up on
his father's homestead in Scottsbluff county,
obtaining his education in the public schools.
At Sidney, Nebraska, in 1907, he was united
in marriage to Miss Beulah Rashaw, who was
bom in Nebraska, and they have four children,
namely : Paul, Cal, Roberta and Betty. Mrs.
Franklin is a member of the Roman Catholic
church.
Mr. Franklin has been a farmer all his life
and is considered a very competent one by
his neighbors. He owns one hundred and
eighty-one acres, all under ditch, and the im-
provements he has placed here are obvious
and substantial. Mr. Franklin entertains very
decided opinions on many public questions
and votes according to his own judgment.
HERBERT L. CLEVELAND, who exten-
sive operations in farming and stockraising,
make him an important factor in the agri-
cultural life of Scottsbluff county, is well ex-
perienced in this line, having devoted his en-
tire life to such pursuits. He has proved him-
self a good business man and his neighbors
hold him a worthy citizen in every respect.
Herbert L. Cleveland was bom in Story
county, Iowa. July 24, 1877, a son of Z. V
Cleveland, a sketch of whom appears in this
work.
Mr. Cleveland came to ScottsbluiT county in
1909 and homesteaded. He now owns eievei.
hundred and eighty acres of farm and lanch
land, two hundred and twenty acres u;:'g
ditched and exceedingly productive. He aver-
ages one hundred head of cattle yearly.
At La Grange. Wyoming, Mr. Cleveland
was married to I\Iiss Edna Miskimmins, who
was' born in Iowa and brought to Nebraska in
1887. Their five children are as follows :
Robert. Gladys. Harold, Nina and Grace.
Mrs. Cleveland is a member of the Presbyter-
ian church and is active in its various benevo-
lent missions. Mr. Cleveland is intelligently
interested in the country's public affairs as
well as matters near home, but has never identi-
fied himself with a particular political group
and has never accepted public office. He be-
longs to the order of Modern Woodmen of
America.
JOHN F. MARSHALL, who is an ex-
perienced and successful famier of Scottsbluff
county, came to this section of Nebraska
thirty-one years ago and has lived here ever
since. With other early settlers he experi-
enced some hardships, but in the main has been
well satisfied with all the investments he has
ever made here. Mr. Marshall was born in
Fulton county, Illinois, August 29, 1860. His
parents were Samuel S. and Eliza Clannon
Marshall, both of whom were born in Fulton
county, Illinois. The mother died in Iowa
when thirty-five years old, but the father sur-
vived to the age of eighty-one years. He had
been a general farmer in Illinois and in Iowa,
later retired and removed to the state of
Washington and his death occurred there.
John F, Marshall obtained his education in
the public schools and remained on his father's
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
193
farm in Iowa until he reach his majority. He
came then to Nebraska and on April 11. 1889,
took a tree claim in Scottsbluff county, remain-
ing so well satisfied with his surroundings and
his neighbors, that in 1908 he homesteaded one
hundred and sixty acres in the same county.
Without attempting to accjuire an extensive
acreage. Mr. Marshall has most sensibly de-
voted his efiforts to the development and im-
provement of his homestead and has found
both pleasure and profit in so doing.
Mr. Marshall married Mary Orin, and six
children were born to them: Edward, Charles,
John, Bessie and Charlotte ; and Earl, who is
deceased. Mr. Marshall has never been ac-
tive in a political sense but is not an indif-
ferent citizen where the welfare of the coun-
ty is concerned and casts his vote according to
his own well considered ideas on public mat-
ters.
ELMER SCHOOLEY was born in Banner
county, October 25, 1888, son of William H.
and Mary Jane (Wildman) Schooley, a record
of whose lives will be found elsewhere in this
publication. He was reared in Nebraska and
educated in the public schools of the state. He
joined, on July 25, 1918, the Thirtieth Balloon
Company for service in the World ^^'ar. He
was at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and went later to
Ft. Omaha and then to Newport News. On
the evening of sailing for France he became ill
and died at Camp Morrison, October 12, 1918.
He was a young man of fine character, and a
patriot.
WILLIAIM H. SCHOOLEY, who has
spent thirty-three years of his life in Nebraska,
is well known both in Banner and Scottsbluflf
counties. Coming to the state in 1886, he ex-
perienced many pioneer hardships, and his
reminiscences of those early days are very in-
teresting.
William H. Schooley was born July 2, 1851,
in Martin county, Indiana, a son of Obed
and Rachel (Morley) Schooley. His father
was born in Ohio and his mother in Indiana.
They never came to Nebraska. The father
died in Missouri, the mother in Indiana. Wil-
liam H. Schooley attended the district schools
in Indiana and grew to manhood on his father's
farm. In 1881 they moved to Kansas, living
there four years. In 1886 he came to what
was then old Cheyenne county, Nebraska, now
Banner county, homesteaded 160 acres, proved
up and remained on that place until 1895, when
he sold it and came to Scottsbluff county. He
engaged in general farming and raised cattle.
On March 29, 1877, William H. Schooley
was united in marriage, in Indiana, to Miss
Mary Jane ^\'ildman, and they have had five
children : Nettie, who lives at home : Harvey,
who is a farmer on the old homestead : James,
who resides in Sioux count\- : h'.lmcr, whu died
of pneumonia at Camp ilorrisDn. \'irginia,
while in military service during the \Vorld
\\'ar ; and Levi, who went to France with the
American Expeditionarv Forces and returned
in July, 1919. In 1900 Miss Nettie Schooley
homesteaded in Scottsbluff county and her
farm of 160 acres, situated on section 23, town-
ship 23-54, is a very valuable property. Mr.
Schooley has looked after his daughter's farm-
ing interests for some time but is now prac-
tically retired. The family is very highly re-
spected in this section. ;\Ir. and Mrs. Schooley
are members of the Christian church. In pol-
iti;s he is independent in local affairs, but in
national elections is a Democrat.
JOHN J. BROWN, who is well known in
Scottsbluff' county as an enterprising farmer
and worthy citizen was born at Westbury,
England, May 26, 1878, and was reared and
educated there. He is a son of Henry W. and
Mary (Jackson) Brown, both of whom still
live at Westbury. where the father is a cloth
manufacturer.
John J. Brown remained in his native land
until twenty-eight years old and then came
to the United States. In 1906 he reached
Scottsbluff' county, Nebraska, and homestead-
ed one hundred and sixty acres. He has
placed substantial improvements here and as
soon as the ditching project that is under way
is completed, will have an exceedingly valuable
estate. He carries on general farming and has
met with more than a moderate degree of suc-
cess.
Since becoming a citizen of the United
States. Mr. Brown has made one visit to Eng-
land, where, <in January 18, 1917, he was mar-
ried tu Miss I'.tlul Crist, who is a daughter of
Edward and Hmnia ( \\'heeler) Grist, who re-
side at Westbury, England, where Mr. Grist
is a cloth maker. Mrs. Brown is a member of
the Baptist church. Mr. Brown has never
served in any public office although well quali-
fied as to character and sound judgment. Po-
litically he is affiliated with the Democratic
party.
S. S. y'OLIMSBEE, is a pioneer not only of
western Nebraska, but of the entire west. He
was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, May 30,
1833. He missed being born on Decoration
Day by some forty years, but, of course, when
he chose May 30 for his birthday he had no
194
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
way of knowing that Congress would pick the
same dav, many years later, for ^lemorial
Day.
The father of INIr. Folmsbee was Isaac
Folmsbee, a native of Pennsylvania, who served
his country as a major in the War of 1812.
His mother, Debora (Swift) Folmsbee, was
a native of Maine.
The subject of this sketch freighted through
Nebraska over the old Oregon Trail to Cali-
fornia in 1852. and encountered the hardships
and adventures that were common to that
dangerous journey, meeting many Indians, and
stopping long enough to carve his name on the
famous chimney Rock. Arriving safe in Cali-
fornia, he spent five years in mining in the
newly discovered gold field, but failed to make
a big strike and ended his adventure by enlist-
ing in the United States navy and cruising in
Pacific waters for three years. In 1860 he re-
turned to his home, and in 1862 was married in
Indiana to Mary Quick, who was born June 27,
1843, in Franklin county, Indiana, the daugh-
ter of George and Susan (Lyons) Quick, both
natives of that state. They lived together fifty-
seven years.
Mr. Folmsbee moved to Nebraska in 1886
and located five miles south of where Melbeta
village now stands. Here he made his home
until about fifteen years before his death.
Eight years ago he moved to ^^lelbeta where
his death occured March 20, 1919, at the age
of eighty-six years. To him and his wife
were born eleven children, namely : Leona,
Jennie, Myrtle, Cora, Eminet, Harry, Clifford.
Stella, Maude, Ethel and George ; eight of
whom are living.
He was a successful man and enjoyed the
respect and esteem of those who knew him.
His homestead in Scottsbluit county was im-
proved by his own labor and remains as a
monument to his industry and progressiveness.
JOHN E. CLURE, who is an enterprising
and progressive young farmer of Scottsbluff
county, owns a valuable irrigated farm and
operates it carefully, intelligently and success-
fully. Mr. Clure was born in t)awes county,
Nebraska, November 10, 1888.
John Clure, the father, now resides on a
farm near Bayard, in IMorrill count)'. He was
born at Aurora, Illinois, July 2, 1849, son of
Joseph and Mary (Burlaugh) Clure, natives
of Canada. When he was ten years of age
the family removed to Benton county, Iowa,
later going to Iowa county. John Clure en-
gaged in farming. He lived in Cass county,
Iowa, until removal in 1881 to Dawes county,
Nebraska. Later he lived in Scottsblufif coun-
ty, and then moved to Morrill county, where
he has lived since. He married while in Iowa
Sarah M. Parker, who was born in Lee coun-
ty, Illinois, the daughter of Humphrey and
Nancy J. (Cole) Parker, natives of Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Clure endured in Nebraska, all
the hardships and privations of pioneer life.
They were the parents of eleven children, ten
of whom grew to maturity.
John E. Clure lived in Dawes county until
he was about eight years old, when he accom-
panied his parents to Morrill county, where he
attended school and assisted his father on
the home farm until 1908. In that year he
began farming for himself and has demon-
strated his competency. He now owns eighty
acres of finely improved, irrigated land in
Scottsblufif county and devotes it to general
crop raising.
Mr. Clure was married to Miss Elsie W"ood,
who was born in Scottsbluff countv, January
19, 1895, a daughter of J. P. Wood, a sketch
of whom will be found in this work.
GEORGE B. DENTON, who is one of the
substantial farmers and livestock men of
Scottsbluff county, has been engaged in farm
pursuits all his life, and for the past fifteen
years has been operating for himself.
George B. Denton was born February 1,
1876, in Pennsylvania, and is a son of J. B.
and Eliza (Bateman) Denton, both of whom
were born in England. J. B. Denton was
brought to the United States when eleven
years old and his wife came here when nine-
teen years old. They were married in Penn-
sylvania and in 1886 came to Nebraska and
settled in Box Butte county. The father is
a retired farmer audi both parents live at
Alliance. George B. Denton accompanied his
parents to Box Butte county and assisted his
father until 1904, when he began farming
on his own responsibility. In 1918 he came
to Scottsbluft' county and purchased two hun-
dred and forty acres of well improved, irri-
gated land. Additionally he owns three sec-
tions of cattle land in Sioux county.
Mr. Denton married Miss Anna Lore, who
was born in Kansas, November 10, 1880, a
daughter of J. A. and Luella (Dunlap) Lore.
The mother of Mrs. Denton is deceased but
the father is yet an active farmer in Box Butte
county. Mr. and Mrs. Denton have three
children, namely: Arthur, Richard and Ever-
ett, aged respectively sixteen, thirteen and
seven years. Mrs. Denton is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Denton
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
195
is somewhat interested in politics and votes
the Repubhcan ticket. He is widely known in
this section and very well thought of.
AUSTIN MOOMAW, has been a resident
of the great state of Nebraska for over a half
century. Ha was born in Pike county, Illi-
nois, July 29, 1860. His parents were Joel
and Susan (Pence) Moomaw. The father was
born in Ross county, Ohio, engaged in farming
all his life and died in Missouri when aged
seventy-three years. The mother was born in
Pennsylvania and lived to be eighty-four years
old. In 1871 the family went to Missouri,
but it was not until the spring of 1887 that
Austin Moomaw filed on a claim and moved
on the homestead in Scottsblufi" county, on
which he has lived ever since. The early
days here were full of trial and discourage-
ment to the hardworking settlers and almost
all of them lost crops and cattle because of
unseasonable storms and unusual dry weather.
At that time there was not a house in sight
and he lived for fifteen years in a sod house.
Farseeing men may have visioned a time when
the arid land might be transformed into pro-
ductive farms, but if so, their ideas came to
naught for many years. In the meanwhile
sturdy, hopeful men like Austin Moomaw held
on to their land and the time has arrived when
the wildest fancies of those who believed in
the countrv''s great future have been more than
realized. Mr. Moomaw owns three hundred
and twenty acres of well improved, irrigated
land and is successfully engaged in general
farming and crop raising.
Mr. Moomaw was married to Miss Agnes
Spriggs, who was born in northern Missouri,
March 15. 1860, a daughter of Thomas R. and
Luvenia (Carlin) Spriggs, natives of West-
moreland county. Virginia, the former of
whom died on his farm when aged sixty-six
years, and the latter when seventy-three years
old. Mrs. Moomaw served two terms, four
years, as county superintendent of schools in
the early days. Mr. and Mrs. Moomaw have
two children, namely : Leon and Vera, the
latter of whom is the wife of Roy Walford,
who is an attorney at Lincoln Nebraska ; the
son is married and lives in Morrill county.
Both the children were given college educa-
tions. The family belongs to the Christian
church. Mr. Moomaw has always voted the
Democratic ticket but has never been willing
to serve in public ofTice.
MELVILLE NEIGHBORS, who is an en-
terprising and successful young farmer of
Scottsbluff county, operating on section 10,
was born April 7, 1894, in Missouri. His par-
ents are Joseph G. and Carrie A. (Franklin)
Neighljors. who are mentioned elsewhere in
this work.
Melville Neighbors obtained his education
in Nebraska. He remained at home assisting
his father until 1915, when he started out for
himself and now operates eighty acres of ir-
rigated land very profitably, devoting it to
general farming. He follows modern methods
in carrying on his; farm industries and uses
improved inachinery.
Mr. Neighbors was married to Miss Marie
Peterson in 1915, who was born in Morrill
county, November 3, 1898. Her parents are
Arthur and Elizabeth (Phillips) Peterson,
both of whom were born in Canada. The fath-
er is still engaged in farming in Morrill coun-
ty. Mr. and Mrs. Neighbors are members of
the Methodist Episcopal church.
MISS MYRTLE HILL. — There are fine,
productive farms in Scottsbluff county and the
histories of these read much alike because they
all have been developed out of a wilderness
through the industry of men and women who
went through hardship and deprivation to
make them what they are. The owners of
these farms are not the only pioneers who
came here and made attempts at settlement,
but they are, in almost every case where injus-
tice was not done, those who were on the field
early and labored hard to acquire what they
have. One of these fine properties is owned
by Myrtle Hill, a well known resident of this
county.
Miss Hill was born in Sullivan county. New
York, December 21. 1856. Her parents were
Albert and Sarah L. (Palmer Hill, both na-
tives of Sullivan county, the father bom
August 12. 1825. and the mother, Februar}'
2, 1828. The father of Miss Hill was a
farmer and also operated a sawmill. In 1885
Myrtle Hill came to Scottsbluff county and
took a homestead and a tree claim but as this
claim was contested, she lost that property.
She still has the homestead, to which she
subsequently added and now owns three hun-
dred and sixty acres of the finest land in the
county, all irrigated and well improved. Miss
Hill values her land at $300 an acre. She has
seen hard times in this section but never lost
faith in the real fertility of the soil and has
lived to see her ideas on irrigation carried out
She carries on general farming and also raises
some stock. Rliss Hill is one of the county's
substantial women.
196
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
ARTHUR A. JEFFORDS, who is one of
McGrew's most highly respected retired citi-
zens, came to Scottsbluff county at an early
date and has been prominently identified with
its developing enterprises. Mr. Jeffords has
been particularly interested in the great ir-
rigation projects that have changed this once
arid country- into a section of agricultural pro-
fusion and has made it one of the richest
counties in the state of Nebraska.
Arthur A. Jeffords was born in Muskingum
county, Ohio, June 25, 1850. His parents were
John and Nancy Jeffords, both of whom were
born in Ohio. The father was a farmer there
until 1886. when he moved to Nebraska, set-
tling near Broken Bow in Custer county. The
mother died there when aged sixty-six years,
but the father survived until in his seventy-
ninth year.
Mr. Jeffords in 1886 drove from Iowa to
Custer county, Nebraska, with a team of
horses. He traded the horses for oxen and
after one of the oxen died, worked his
land with a cow and the other ox. He landed
in what was then called Cheyenne county with
not much more in worldly wealth than a sack
of beans and $70 in cash. He homesteaded
one and a half miles south of McGrew, but at
that time there was nothing to be seen but bare
prairie which was the range for the Bay State
cattle company. He homesteaded one hun-
dred and sixty acres and also secured a timber
claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and for
a number of years carried on agricultural
operations, then sold and retired to McGrew,
where he has since resided. He was a di-
rector of the first school established in school
district eighteen and continued to be inter-
ested in the schools as long as he lived in that
district. He served for four years as asses-
sor. Mr. Jeffords was one of the enterprising
men instrumental in getting the Castle Rock
ditch project started, in 1889, and has been a
member of the managing board ever since.
Mr. Jeffords was married to Miss Mary E.
Kating, who was born at Lexington, Ken-
tucky, a daughter of Edward and Katherine
Kating, the former of whom was born in Ire-
land. The mother of Mrs. Jeffords survives,
but the father has never been heard from since
he started for Pike's Peak in search of gold.
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffords have three children:
Ira, a carpenter at Ogallala ; Airs. Abbie Van-
devere, of Ogallala ; and Glenn, a ranchman in
Wyoming. Mr. Jeffords has always been
identified with the Democratic party.
HENRY C. BLOOD, who owns a valuable
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Scotts-
bluff county, at one time was quite active in
its management, but is now practically re-
tired from agricultural pursuits. He is well
and favorably known over the county, especial-
ly at Minatare, where he was in the hay, grain
and coal business for ten years.
Mr. Blood was born in Portage county, Ohio,
April 17, 1868, a son of Adorno and Hannah
F. Blood,the former of whom died in his for-
ty-fourth year and the latter when aged seven-
ty-five years. They came to Nebraska in 1887
and the father homesteaded in Sioux county.
Mr. Blood had two sisters, Mrs. Ettie Yoey
and Mrs. Mary Hood, the former of whom is
deceased and the latter resides at Melbeta, Ne-
braska.
In 1887 Mr. Blood homesteaded in Sioux
county, Nebraska, and spent ten years on his
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres
there, then came to Scottsbluff county in 1897
and worked for others and rented land for
several years. In 1901 he bought property at
Minatare. He has put excellent improvements
on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres
and has seventy-five acres ditched. He raises
hay and grain exclusively. He has always
voted the Democratic ticket.
JOHN BRADY, who is a representative
citizen of Scottsbluff county , an extensive
farmer, large landowner and successful cattle
raiser, was born in Columbia county, Wiscon-
sin, January 14, 1851. His parents were John
and Rose Brady, both of whom were born in
Ireland. They came to the United States in
1842 and settled in Wisconsin. The father
served in the Mexican war. He and wife
died on his Wisconsin farm at advanced age.
John Brady was reared on a farm but had
excellent educational advantages and for nine
years before coming to Nebraska was super-
intendent of schools of Fillmore county, Min-
nesota. He came to Scottsbluff county in
1912 and homesteaded one hundred and two
acres, and at the same time his two sisters
and his mother-in-law also homesteaded. He
now owns three hundred and twenty acres of
land irrigated by the Highland government
ditch. When the family came first to this
valley there were few neighbors and no or-
ganized road system. Mr. Brady has very sub-
stantially improved his property, has a com-
fortable and attractive rural home place and
all buildings needed for the carr>'ing on of
farm industries in a modern way. He en-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
197
gages in general farming and raises registered
Shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Brady was united in marriage to Har-
riet Elizabeth Janes. Her father was born
in Illinois and her mother in Canada. They
came early to Kearney, Nebraska, and Mrs.
Brady enjoyed excellent educational training
and for a number of years prior to her mar-
riage, was an instructor in the Kearney high
school. Mr. and Mrs. Brady have one son,
John H.. who is in business at Seattle, Wash-
ington. Mr. Brady has always given his po-
litical support to the Republican party. With
his family he belongs to ithe Presbyterian
church. For many years he has been active
in Masonic circles and assisted in establishing
the first Masonic lodge at Minatare.
WILLIAM H. BECK, who was one of
Banner county's most respected citizens for
many years, was born in W'ayne county, Ohio,
in 1847 and died in Gering, December 1. 1904.
He was an example of the honest, industrious,
intelligent and conscientious pioneer settler, to
which class Banner and other counties of this
great state owe so much in the way of sub-
stantial development.
The parents of Mr. Beck were William and
Marv Ann (Hartman) Beck, who were mar-
ried February 29, 1844. At the age of thirty-
five years William Beck became a minister in
the I\Iethodist Episcopal church. He was born
at Middletown, Dauphin countv, Pennsylvania,
June 23, 1817.
William H. Beck grew to manhood in Ohio
and when the Civil War came on proved his
loyalty to the Union by enlisting as a soldier
in Company F, 186th Ohio Infantry, in which
he served faithfully and took ])art in many
battles. It was after the war was over that
he went to Indiana, where on June 3, 1869, he
was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Brown,
who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, De-
cember 22, 1842. Her parents were Tivis H.
and Matilda (Banister) Brown, who were
natives of Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Beck was
the fourth born of their seven children, six of
whom were daughters. For four years after
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Becek lived in
Indiana. In 1884 they came to Nebraska and
settled in what was then Cheyenne county, later
changed to Banner county, where Mr. Beck
preempted land and also secured a timber
claim. He was a general farmer and at the
time of retirement, about 1900, came to Gering
and owned 320 acres of well developed land.
The following children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Beck : Mrs. Nora McCoy, whose husband
is a merchant in Oregon ; Worthy, who died in
infancy; Mrs. Grace Nelly Forman, who lives
near Mitchell : Mrs. Sadie Bell McCampsey,
who lives in Oregon ; Mrs. Mary E. Adcock,
who is deceased ; and Walter T., who resides
near Gering, Nebraska. Mr. Beck was a Re-
publican in politics. He was a faithful member
of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which
religious body Mrs. Beck also belongs, in which
she is quite active at Gering. She has a small
residence in this city and has a wide acquaint-
ance and many friends.
FRED L. BURNS, who has passed almost
his entire life in the state of Nebraska, is a
representative and prominent citizen of Scotts-
bluff county and is the owner of a fine farm
but resides at Gering. He was born in Illinois,
October 27, 1869 and accompanied his parents
to Nebraska in 1871. Both parents, A. S.
and Elizabeth Burns, were born in Canada.
The father homesteaded in Fillmore county,
but now resides with his son at Gering. The
mother died when aged fifty-five years.
Fred Burns obtained his education in the
public schools. In 1901 he came to Scottsbluflf
county and in 1906 homesteaded one hundred
and sixty acres, eighty-eight of which are
under irrigation. He married Miss Nan Ful-
ton, who was born in Missouri. Her parents
were J. R. and Mary Fulton, who were born
in Ohio, came to Fillmore county, Nebraska,
and homesteaded and died in that county aged
respectively seventy-six and eighty-four years.
Mr. and ]\Irs. Burns have an adopted son, Ed-
ward Burns, who is a bright and obedient
youth now attending school at Gering. For
some years before her marriage, Mrs. Burns
taught school in Fillmore county and also in
Wyoming and both she and Mr. Burns have
been greatly interested in school development
in school district number thirty-three. The
first sessions were held in a dugout, in 1905,
but in 1908 a schoolhouse, 18x24 feet in di-
mensions was provided and in 1910 an addi-
tion was built to the structure. Largely
through Mr. Burns's influence a commodious,
modern school structure took its place in 1915.
The first teacher was a Miss Elquist, who had
six pupils, while now there are forty or more
and when all are present two teachers are re-
quired. In politics Mr. Burns is an old-line
Republican. He has served in different local
ofifices and was deputy county treasurer from
1907 until 1912, and county treasurer from
1912 to 1916, and Mrs. Burns was deputy
under him. Mrs. Bums owns one hundred
and sixty acres of fine land southwest of Ger-
ing.
198
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
HARVEY HARWARD, who is a well
known, enterprising and highly respected citi-
zen of Scottsbluff county, a successful farmer
and public official for a number of years, was
born in Iowa, January 9, 1864. His parents
were Charles and Nancy Harward, natives of
Ohio. The father was a farmer all his life
and died in Missouri at the age of sixty-five.
Harvey Harward lost his mother when he
\<ras eight years old. He has one older broth-
er. He came to Nebraska and on April 13,
1886, homesteaded one hundred and forty-four
and a half acres and secured a timber claim,
and since that time has improved four farms
and has in prospect another. He now has
eighty acres ditched and is making extensive
improvements.
In Scottsbluff county Mr. Harward was
united in marriage to Miss Ina Williams. Her
parents were T. J. and Lovina (Michel) Will-
iams, the latter of whom died at the age of
fifty years. The father of Mrs. Harward was
born in Henry county Iowa, February 9, 1849.
His parents were Henry and Leah (Stan-
brough) Williams, natives of Ohio. Mr. Will-
iams spent twenty-nine years in Iowa, then
moved to Dakota and in 1885 to Cheyenne
county and homesteaded near Bayard, one hun-
dred and sixty acres of dry land all of which is
now ditched. He no longer is active on the
farm but Mr. Harward, with whom he lives,
looks after his interests. Mr. Williams was
county assessor from 1892 until 1896, held
school offices many years and was a leading
citizen in many ways. His children were as
follows : Mrs. Rose Williamson of Iowa ; Mrs.
Harvev Harward, of Scottsbluff county; Mrs.
Gatch, Mrs. Davis and A. O. Williams, all of
Scottsbkift' county ; R. C, of Melbeta ; and
Guy, deceased. The last named left two chil-
dren, Lovina and Thomas James, and Mr.
Harward is rearing them as his own.
In politics, Mr. Harward has always been
more or less an independent voter. For a
number of years he has held school offices and
oft'ices in connection with irrigation projects
and has also been assessor. He has been very
active in forwarding educational and church
movements and on January 22, 1889, helped
to organize the First Baptist church in High-
land precinct, a charter member with J. M.
Adams and L. A. Christian. Both he and wife
belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and
he is superitnendent of the Sunday school.
FRANKLIN A REDFIELD was born in
Livingston county, New York, November 25,
1834, and died August 26, 1904, in Johnson
county, Nebraska. His wife, Alary E. Aldrich,
is a native of Ray county, Missouri, where she
was born February 4. 1839. She came to
Scottsbluff county in 1916 from Johnson coun-
ty, where she had resided from the time of
her husband's death, and now at the age of
80 years she fives by herself in the town of
MellDeta and successfully looks after all her
affairs.
Mr. Redfield, after his marriage on Febru-
ary 4, 1858, lived in Illinois as a farmer until
the outbreak of the Civil War. When the call
of the country came for volunteers he enlisted
and served three years in the war. He came
to Nebraska April 1, 1870 and settled in John-
son county. He was first a farmer and then
a merchant there for ten years, was. a very
successful man, and widely known. Mr. Red-
field was a member of the Grand Army of
the Republic of Crabb Orchard Post G. A. R.
To Mr. and Mrs. Redfield were born two
children. The elder of these, Lucien H. Red-
field, was born in Illinois June 10, 1859 ; came
to Scottsbluff county in 1911 and purchased
land which he has improved and upon which
he has been successful in general farming. To
him and his wife, Alice (Worley) Redfield, a
native of Iowa, eight children have been bom,
six of whom are living, namely : Clark, now
employed in Melbeta, was across the ocean
nine times, being in the U. S. navy during the
late war on tlie transport Wilemina ; Clara, a
nurse in the Midwest hospital in Scottsbluff;
Lucy, the wife of Edgar Decker, a merchant
in Melbeta ; and Mary, John, and Arthur, at
home.
The other son of the subject of this sketch
is William C. Redfield, a banker at Haig, in
Scottsbluff county. He was bom in Illinois
on December 30, 1860. He was married to
Mary E. Barrett, a native of New York, and
two children have been born to them, namely :
Franklin, who has recently been discharged
from the United States navy, and Martha, de-
ceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Redfield were members of
the Congregational church in Illinois, but after
coming to Nebraska they joined the M. E.
church in Johnson county, bringing a letter
from the Crabb Orchard M. E. church to the
Melbeta church.
JOSEPH P. WOOD. — The subject of
this sketch is a native of Iowa, and was born
December 11, 1857. His father was George
Wood, who was bora in Madison, Indiana, and
followed the occupation of a blacksmith in In-
diana, later moving to Kansas where he worked
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
199
at his trade until his death at the ripe age of
seventy-nine years. His mother, Artemisia
(Austin) Wood, died at the age of fifty.
She was a native of Kentucky.
Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Ella
Johnson, who was born in Illinois November
24, 1859. Her parents were Horace Johnson,
a native of New Hampshire, and Helen
(Smith) Johnson, a native of Connecticut.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are now de-
ceased. They followed the calling of general
farming in Illinois and never came to Nebras-
ka.
Two children were bom to Mr. and Mrs.
Wood : Delmar, who is married and lives in
California ; and Elsie, now Mrs. J. E. Clure,
living on a farm in Scottsbluff county.
Mr. Wood came to Nebraska in 1886 and
settled on a homestead of one hundred and
sixty acres. After improving his place, he
found, like many other western Nebraskans in
the early days, that money was not so plenti-
ful in the short grass region, so he secured em-
ployment as manager of a ranch in Wyoming
and held the position for twelve years. At
the end of that time the prosperous growth
of Scottsbluiif county was beginning, and he
returned to his place here and has success-
fully followed farming and stockrasing from
that time. He is a Democrat in politics and
is widely known among the early settlers as an
industrious man, a good friend and neighbor,
an upright American citizen. He has seen the
country grow and has grown with it. He is
one of the many who have proved that the
main difference between success and failure
is the ability to stick to it.
WILLIAM JOHNS is a native of Nebras-
ka, born in Johnson county August 22, 1868,
and has spent his life in the state. His father,
Ferdinand Johns, was a native of Germany,
but came to America in the spring of 1868,
where he took a homestead in Johnson county
and followed farming there until his death at
the age of seventy-six years. His mother,
Caroline (Bolt) Johns, also born in Germany,
died in Johnson county, aged sixty-eight.
Mr. Johns was married to Louise Zinsmaster,
a native of Ohio. Her father, Jacob Zins-
master was born in Germany, coming to Amer-
ica when a young man. He married Maria
Sutvarn. a native of Ohio. They were farm-
ing people and died in Johnson county, Ne-
braska.
To Mr. and Mrs. Johns eleven children have
been born, ten of whom are living. They are:
Earnest, Mvrtle (now Mrs. Warren Dick-
inson, living cm a farm in Scottsbluff county),
Harry, Ehidr.i, WiIIht (deceased), Roy, Earl,
Nellie, Bernicc. L..rinc, and Grace. All are
living at home except the married daughter.
Mr. Johns has farmed in both ends of Ne-
braska, twenty years in Johnson county and
ten years in Scottsbluff. When he came here
he purchased four hundred acres of land and
has been engaged in general farming and
stock raising. He now owns seven hundred
and ten acres. He is not inclined to be boast-
ful, but modestly says that he considers him-
self successful. When a man at middle age
has a family of ten children, a prosperous
farm and ranch business, and seven hundred
and ten acres of Nebraska land that is increas-
ing in value every year — if such a man is
not entitled to call himself successful, we must
get a new definition of success.
C. H. BURK. — The subject of this notice
was born January 29, 1856, in Fountain coun-
ty, Indiana, the son of John and Mary Burk,
both now deceased. John Burk was a native
of Kentucky. He dealt in horses, and during
the Civil War bought horses for the United
States government. He never came to Ne-
braska, but died at the age of seventy. The
mother lived to the advanced age of eighty
years.
C. H. Burk came to Nebraska in 1883 and
settled at Tamora, in Seward county, where he
engaged in the lumber business for about two
years. He was married at Phillips, Nebraska,
on June 30. 1885, to Pet W. Wood, who was
a daughter of James W. and Margaret (Sho-
walter) Wood. She was born in Benton coun-
ty, Iowa, where the father was an early set-
tler and a prominent attorney, having come
from London, England, directly to Iowa. Her
mother was a native of Ohio. Both the par-
ents are now deceased.
One child, Harmon J. Burk, was born to
this union, and died at the early age of four
vears.
From 1885 to 1893 Mr. Burk conducted a
hardware and lumber business at Phillips, Ne-
braska, and then entered the banking business
at the same place. Since that time he has been
a banker and has had the unusual experience
of founding and successfully developing some
half a dozen banks in western Nebraska, all
of which are now prosperous and growing
with the fast growing country. His first lo-
cation in this vicinity was at Bayard, where in
company with J. W. Wehn he opened the
Bank of Bayard in January, 1900, with a
capitalization of $5,000. Later the same men
200
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
founded the Deuel County Bank, at Oshkosh,
with $10,000 capital, and Mr. Burk made his
residence in Oshkosh for two years directing
the affairs of this bank. Next he spent two
years with the Bank of Levvellen, in the same
county, another $10,000 institution. In 1909
the Broadwater Bank, in Morrill county, was
opened with $10,000 capital, and in 1911 Mr.
Burk went to McGrew, in Scottsbluff county,
where he opened a bank with $15,000 capital.
He sold this in February, 1914, and since that
time has been retired from active business
pursuits.
Mr. Burk is a Republican in politics, and
belongs to the Woodmen and Highlanders.
Mrs Burk is a member of the Presbyterian
church.
G. R. CONKLIN. — Born in Polk county,
Iowa, September 18, 1872, Mr. Conklin came
to Nebraska in 1886 with his parents. His
father, Gilbert Conklin, was a native of New
York and a farmer. His mother, Lucy M.
Conklin, was likewise born in New York but
was reared in Iowa. The parents took a home-
stead in Nebraska, and the father dying be-
fore final proof was made, the mother com-
pleted the proof. She is since deceased at
the age of sixty-one years.
The subject of this sketch was married at
Gering to Florence Alberts, a native of Iowa.
Of the five children born to them, one son,
Cliftord. died at the age of eighteen months.
The others, all living at home, are : Walter,
Clayton, Charles and Leslie.
Mr. Conklin proved up on a homestead near
McGrew, Nebraska, which he sold. He also
bought and sold several otehr places before
locating on his present farm where he is
engaged in general farming and preparing to
make extensive improvements. He has, like
practically all early Nebraska settlers, raised
cattle. Furthermore, like all the other early
settlers, he took a hand at every side line
that offered a chance to make an honest dol-
lar in the days when dollars were as scarce
as steamboats on these western prairies. He
hauled the first load of freight into Gering
from Sidney. He drove a prairie schooner
through from Missouri, and saw all the hard-
ships of the pioneer days. Some of those who
took part in those early struggles gave up
and left ; others stuck it out, and they are
now the successful and prosperous members of
the community in its present days of great
development and growing riches. Mr. Conk-
lin was one of those who stuck. He is road
overseer of district number six and was a
member of the school board of district num-
ber eighteen. He belongs to the W. O. W.,
while his wife is a member of the Woodmen
Circle and of the Presbyterian church.
GEORGE KEIPER WHITAKER was
born June 14, 1862, in Morgan county, Indi-
ana. His father. Bland Whitaker, was a na-
tive of Kentucky, a farmer by occupation, and
lived to the age of seventy years. His mother,
Fanny Whitaker, died at the age of fifty-four.
Mr. Whitaker was married at Kearney, Ne-
braska, to Miranda Carpenter, whose parents
were early settlers in Buffalo county. Her
father. E. W. Carpenter, came to that locality
in 1872. Both he and his wife, Emily, are now
deceased.
Eight children have come to bless the home
life of Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker, and all of
them are living at home. Their names are,
Nigel, Dell, Clarabell, Ruth, Harry, Emma,
Jackson, and George K., Jr.
The subject of this sketch came to Nebraska
in 1880 with his mother, and both of them
took up homesteads in Buffalo county, near
Kearney. After living there twenty-eight
years, engaged in extensive farming and stock-
raising operations, Mr. Whitaker came to
Scottsbluff county in 1909 and bought his pres-
ent home. This is a well improved place of
three hundred and twenty acres, of which
eighty acres is now under irrigation, and all
the balance will be irrigated by the new Gov-
ernment ditch which is now being constructed.
Coming to this section of the state with the
first railroad, Mr. Whitaker has seen it de-
velop from a sparsely settled range country
to one of the wealthiest sections of the United
States, all in a few years, and he has had his
share of the prosperity. He now confines
himself to a general farming business, al-
though up until 1918 he had raised cattle. In
that year he closed out his cattle and retired
from stock raising. In politics he is a Re-
publican, and is a member of the Methodist
church. He is well and favorably known to
all of the pioneers of the county, and there is
between them the bond of friendship that
comes from pioneering together in the days of
hard times.
CHARLES E. NEELEY was born in
Schuyler county, Missouri, September 3, 1866.
His father was Robert S. Neeley, a native of
Lancaster, Ohio, and his mother, Sarah M.
Neeley, a native of Kentucky. Both lived to
an advanced age, the mother dying at eighty-
five and the father at eighty-seven. The fath-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
201
er, after living in Missouri for a number of
years, moved to Colorado and engaged in the
ranching business. In a runaway accident he
was thrown from a buggy into the icy waters
of an irrigation ditch, and owing to his age
he was unable to withstand the shock and his
death resulted.
The subject of this sketch came to Cheyenne
county, Nebraska, in 1885 as a single man. In
1906 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth
J. Baumer at Lancaster, Missouri, his wife
being a native of that place. Three children
have blessed this union, namely : Alpha, Joseph
R., and Perry E., all of whom are living at
home.
Mr. Neeley homesteaded and pre-empted
three hundred and twenty acres of land in
Mitchell Valley, in ScottslDluit county, which
is now one of the richest sections of the great
irrigated territory of western Nebraska. Lat-
er he sold his holdings there, and moved to
the old home in Missouri, but after an absence
of five years he became convinced of the
great truth that it is a crime to leave the North
Platte Valley irrigated country, and an un-
pardonable crime to stay away ; so he return-
ed and purchased a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres of irrigated and eighty acres of
non-irrigated land near Gering, which he has
improved himself. It is now up to the stan-
dard of Scottsbluff county farm homes, which
is one of the highest standard in the world.
In politics Mr. Neeley has been an inde-
pendent voter. He belongs to the I. O. O. F.,
Masons, and M. W. A., and for a number of
years has been a member of the school board
of his district. He is well known and stands
high in the estimation of his neighbors.
J. J. KIPP. — The subject of this sketch
was born in Germany on September 5, 1858,
and came to the United States in 1862, and
settled at Quincy, Illinois. He is the son of
Joseph and Elizabeth Kipp, both natives of
Germany, and both now deceased. When he
was four years of age his mother died, his
father being at that time in America, and
three children of the family made the long
journey across the ocean to join their father.
The brother, Frederick, and the sister, Eliza-
beth, who accompanied the little one are now
not living.
Mr. Kipp's first wife was Mary E. Crane, a
native of Iowa, and to them were born two
children, Earl and Elizabeth, both living. The
son is a farmer at Reddington, Nebraska, and
the daughter, whose name is now Elizabeth
Davis, resides at Harrison, South Dakota.
After the death of his first wife, Mr. Kipp
was married to Frace E. Myers, who was
born in Illinois, the daughter of Andrew and
Ella Myers, of Independence, Missouri. Four
children have been born to this union, Joseph
H., Ella, Dorothy, Mabel, and Victor.
In March, 1888, Mr. Kipp settled in Sioux
county, Nebraska, and followed farming and
cattle raising there until 1901, when he dis-
posed of his homestead and purchased land
in Scottsblufif county and has since made his
home upon it. He has eig-hty acres of fine
irrigated land, which he has improved from its
former condition of raw prairie into a modem
and up-to-date farm ; and in addition he owns
a half interest in eighty acres near his home
place. In common with the other pioneers
of western Nebraska, Mr. Kipp endured the
privations and hardships of early Nebraska
homesteading and often found it hard to make
both ends meet. He is now prosperous and
one of the substantial members of his com-
munity.
JOHN HARVEY PFEIFER. — One of
the prosperous exponents of the agricultural
and stock-raising interests of Scottsblufif
county is the man whose name heads this re-
view, who has been a resident of this section
for a decade.
Mr. Pfeifer was bom in Crawford county,
Ohio, November 2, 1872, the son of Godfrey
F. and Emiline (Snyder) Pfeifer, both of
whom were natives of the Buckeye state.
Seven children were born to them: Chris, now
a ranchman in Banner county, Nebraska;
Laura, the wife of Frank Sears, a lumber
merchant in Montana ; Katy, who married
Francis Whitman of Russell county, Kansas,
and T- H., are living, the others are dead.
Tlie father was a farmer school teacher in
Ohio, and his was also the distinction of hav-
ing been a gallant soldier of the Union dur-
ing the Civil War. After the cessation of
hostilities he became a farmer in the Buckeye
state but being a man of excellent education
and high attainments devoted a part of his
time to communal atfairs for the benefit of
the rising generation, teaching in the public
schools. After some residence there he sold
out and came to Kansas, taking up a home-
stead. From there he came to Banner county,
where he finished proving up on a homestead
left by a son who died. Subsequently he came
still farther west to Scottsblufif county where
he passed the remainder of his days. The
mother lived in this county until September,
1913, when she too, sought her last rest. In
HISTORY OF WESTERN XEBRASK.\
politics the father was a staunch supporter of
the principles of the Democratic party but
cast his vote independently when it came to
county and municipal affairs, throwing his
influence toward the man best fitted for each
office. ■ He was a member of the Grand Army
of the Republic, having been a member of a
battery of light artillery from Ohio during
that memorable conflict. He was a Christian
man of high standing in ever>' community
where he resided and had many friends who
held him in high esteem.
Instances are numerous in Scottsbluff coun-
ty where men have arrived in this section
with few acquaintances or friends and have
worked their way to affluence and indepen-
dence, Mr. Pfeifer is one of the number; be-
fore he came here he had been unable to ac-
cumulate any large sum of money but this
in no way discouraged him, for he was a man
of energ\', had faith in the future of west-
ern Nebraska and set out to become possessed
of a share of the prosperity he believed was
coming to this county and today his faith
has been justified by the comfortable fortune
he and his family enjoy.
April 12, 1906, marks the day Mr. Pfeifer
became a resident of this great commonwealth,
for it was then that he located in Banner
county as a ranchman, where for three years
he was engaged in developing and operating
a farm. He had already learned the best
methods of planting and harvesting so that
he was well equipped with practical experi-
ence to enable him to carry on agricultural
pursuits in the new country which he had
decided to make his future home. Three
years later he came to Scottsbluff to work for
a cattleman where he gained valuable experi-
ence in handling stock on a large scale, feed-
ing, buying and marketing that has proved of
value to him in recent years. Within a short
period he bought his present farm of one
hundred and forty-two acres, which at that
time had few improvements but which he has
brought to a high state of cultivation. He is
engaged in general farming and stock-raising,
being highly successful in feeding and fatten-
ing cattle on alfalfa and beets, shipping to
the great meat centers farther east.
On November 9, 1910 Mr. Pfeifer married
Annie Hiersche, a native of Germany, and
to them have been born four children: Leon-
ard, Emma H., Dean and Clyde. Mr. Pfeif-
er was educated in the excellent schools of
this state and Kansas and is a firm believer
in a good education for everyone and special
training for any special vocation in life. He
says nothing shall stand in the way of his
children securing the best educational advan-
tages afforded by district, town and state,
and as a result of his convictions he is a sup-
porter of every movement for higher educa-
tion, county farm bureaus, civic improvements
in both local and state wide affairs. He is
today one of the progressive representatives
of modern rural life.
EARL W. COLLINS, has identified him-
self most fully with the civic and material in-
terests of Scottsbluff county, for he is not
only a representative agriculturist of this sec-
tion, but is also the owner of a well improved
farm estate in section 30, township 23-55. He
is a native son of the west and has exempli-
fied its progressive spirit in the varied activi-
ties that have brought him a generous share
of temporal prosperty.
Mr. Collins was bom in Valley county,
Nebraska, in 1878, the son of Warren and
Amanda (Thurston) Collins. The fonner a
native of Allegheny county, New York, while
on his mother's side he inherits traits from
sturdy old New England ancestors, as she
was born in the state of Maine. There were
eight children in the family: Oscar, a farm-
er in Valley county ; Carrie, the wife of W.
J. Seeley, a farmer of Milford; Helen, a
trained nurse at Ord, Nebraska ; Earl W. ;
Ralph and Lynn, both farmers in Valley coun-
ty; Rex, now engaged in farming in Wash-
ington, and Floyd, a student in a medical
college who spends his vacations at home.
The parents came to Nebraska in 1872, when
the only buildings known in the central part
of the state and westward were composed of
sod, and it was in such a home on a prairie
homestead that Earl Collins, spent his boy-
hood days, attending the district school during
the winter and doing such work as was suit-
able to a boy on the farm. He has watched
wnth the eye of a proprietor, the various
changes that have been brought by the pas-
sage of the years and the sturdy and progres-
sive work of the big hearted pioneers, and
lias himself borne a full share of the labor
of development. He is now one of the land-
holders and successful agriculturists of the
Mitchell community, of Scottsbluff cv>unty
where his accomplishments entitle him to the
respect and esteen in which he is uniformly
held by his fellow citizens.
Mr. Collins located here in 1905, taking
up a homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres, on which he at once placed excellent
improvements. He now has all his land un-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
203
der cultivation, has a fine home and substantial
building's and has established himself as a pro-
gressive and skilled farmer who thoroughl}'
knows his business and can make his labor
pay him pnipdrtionately.
In 1907 Mr. Collins was united in marriage
with Frances Hewett and they have two
charming girls, Doris and Helen, both at
home.
Mrs. Collins was a native of Plymouth
county, Iowa, but since coming to western Ne-
braska, has learned to love the great wide
open spaces of this section, where the skies
are nearly ever sunny, and the country a
wonderful picture with its great expanses of
growing crops in the spring and of yellow
ripened grain in the fall. She like her hus-
band, is progressive in ideas and is a worthy
helpmate for such a man. Mr. Collins is an
u|)-to-date business man, keeps abreast of
all questions of the day, whether national, state
or communal and favors every progressive
movement in this section. He is an indepen-
dent voter, exercising his privilege of the fran-
chise as his wisdom and conscience dictate,
while his fraternal affiliations are with the
Modem Woodmen of America.
MICHAEL L. KIESEL.— Scottsbluft' coun-
ty has few finer citizens of finer fiber or
more sterling worth than Michael Kiesel,
whose field of operations is in the Mitchell
district where he is located on a fine farm
with well developed land, beautiful home, ex-
cellent and practical farm buildings and where
he expects to pass many happy prosperous
years. Mr. Kiesel is a Hoosier, born in Gib-
son county, Indiana. August 30, 188L the son
of Matthew and Lena (Whitman) Kiesel.
The mother was born in France and though a
devoted wife and mother lived to spend but
a few short years with her family as she
died when quite young. Matthew Kiesel Sr.,
was born in Indiana where he was reared and
educated. Upon reaching manhood's estate
he engaged in farming, owning a fine, well
developed tract of one hundred and twenty
acres of land where he successfully conducted
general farming operations for many years.
Today he is a sturdy, vigorous old man of
seventy years. He is a staunch supporter of
the priciples of the Democratic party and
liberal supporter and member of the Catholic
church, a faith in which he was reared from
childhood.
Michael Keisel, Jr., availed himself of the
public school advantages afforded in his native
state, by which he qualified himself for use-
ful citizenship land such public service as
he is called upon to perform. His life oc-
cu[)ation of his own choosing was farming,
in which he has made a striking success. His
first practical work of this nature was as a
boy on the old home place in Indiana, where
he helped as much as his years and strength
]^ermitted, thus gaining a practical educa-
tion along with theoretical studies in school.
Indiana, was, however, well SLttled and there
was little land available for the younger gen-
eration. As the young man was a wide reader
he learned of the opportunities aiiorded on
the great rolling prairies of the middle west
and yielded to the call of the open country,
coming to Nebraska in 1907. After looking
the country over he decided to locate in the
panhandle and took up seventy-six acres of
relinquishment land in the Mitchell district,
Scottsbluff county, on which he has erected
excellent buildings, a good farm home, placed
the land in an excellent state of cultivation and
everything around the farm indicates that the
owner is one of the proseprous farmers of
the county. Mr. Kiesel is modern in his meth-
ods, he believes that the day of the open
range is over and that the future meat pro-
ducers will be the small farmer who specializes
in thoroughbred stock, with this idea in mind
he has made a specialty of raisng nothing but
pure breds. His choice has been Holstein Frie-
sian cattle, Shropshire sheep, Poland-China
hogs and barred Plymouth Rock chickens, all
of which have a wide reputation for their
uniform standard of excellence and have been
widely distributed over western Nebraska and
the surrounding states, as Mr. Kiesel holds a
public sale almost every year to which buyers
come from all over the northwestern section
of the country. He takes great pride in the
many blue ribbons won by his fine stock and
chickens at the various county fairs where he
has become a well known exhibitor.
Independent in his ideas and methods as
well as a far sighted business man it is
but natural that he should follow along these
lines in other matters and is an Independent
politically, knowing no party lines when a
good man is running for office, as he wants
the best man to serve the people of the com-
munity. He is a member of the Catholic
church, the faith in which his ancestors were
reared.
June 17, 1913, is a day marked in his life,
for on it was solemnized his marriage with
Miss Maud L. Kesler, and to them have been
born three happy children : Sylvester, Agatha
and Ruth.
204
HISTORY OF \\'ESTERX NEBRASKA
JESSE FRANKLIN ENLOW, who is one
of the representative citizens of Scottsblufif
county, living in the Michell district, where
he is a landowner of well known prominence,
holds a unique position in the annals of this
great commonwealth, as he was the first man
to conduct a dairy in the capitol city of Ne-
braska. Today he is a worthy representative
of the agricultural interest of the county, hav-
ing been engaged in farming pursuits in this
locality for nearly a quarter of a century,
and so may be regarded as one of the pio-
neers who has played his part in the vital
drama that has turned this section of Ne-
braska into a paradise for the homeseeker, de-
veloping the unbroken prairie into rich farms
dotted with thriving communities. Mr. En-
low is a Hoosier, bom in Indiana October 7,
1869, the son of James H. and Minerva
(Hardsaw) Enlow, the former a native of
the far famed Blue Grass state and the lat-
ter of Indiana. Both of them died in the
prime of life at fifty years of age. James
Enlow was a farm boy by vocation but a stone
mason by trade, who divided his time between
his land and business, in which he was mark-
edly successful. A man of high standing in
the community, well educated and read, his
advice was sought on many matters of im-
portance by friends and acquaintances. He
was a hearty supporter of the Republican
party and a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal church of which his family were also
communicants.
Jesse Enlow was left an orphan at the age
of twelve years and made his home with a
family in that locality. He received his edu-
cational advantages in the public schools of
his native state and graduated from the high
school at Valley City. Indiana. He became a
farmer but the business openings afi'orded
in Indiana did not satsfy him. and with
the idea of gaining a broader field he
came to Nebraska in 1890. The same year he
entered the dairying field in Lincoln. The
capitol of the state was not then the thriv-
ing city of today ; the population was small
and when Mr. Enlow opened a modern up-to-
date dairy it was an event of moment to the
inhabitants who heretofore had never enjoy-
ed such cosmopolitan a service. Subsequently
there were other men engaged in the same
business but he was the pioneer.
The life in Lincoln proved unsatisfactory,
as it was so confining to a man used to the
open, and he decided to take up farming in
the western part of the state where homesteads
were still obtainable and came out to Scotts-
blufif county, homesteading in the Tub Spring
district, but later sold his relinquishment and
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
land on section 16, and the remainder of this
school section he operates under a lease. Part
of his land is already under irrigation and it
is but a question of time until more will be
under ditch.
Here he has established his home, erected
a comfortable house, fine farm buildings and
now is the prossessor of fine improved farm
land. From the first Mr. Enlow seemed to
see into the future; that the profits were to
go to the man who handled thorough-bred
stock, so has specialized in blooded Hereford
cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs, and also makes a
business of feeding range cattle for market.
His fami is out of the general run, being
characterized by his own individuality, which
makes it one of the most prosperous and in-
teresting in the whole panhandle region. He
planned all his improvements and that they
are exceptionally fine, attest to his ability.
He has set out a fine large orchard with many
trees already in high state of production. It
goes without saying that such a man has a
complete line of farm and orchard equipment,
with latest designed machinery. Mr. Enlow
stands for the epitome of progressiveness in
this section and is a worthy example that
younger men in agricultural pursuits would
do well to follow if they would journey rap-
idly along the highway to success. He is an
independent voter and a keen student of po-
litical afifairs from those of his immediate
community up to ones of national scope. He
is a sturdy supporter of the public school for
he says that all his life he has been using the
knowledge that he learned in both elementary
and high school and that every boy and girl
ought to count the diploma from the high
school as a white milestone in life. Mr. En-
low married Miss Alice Lonsdale of Lnicoln,
whose parents are deceased. She is a gracious
and charming woman with a great big heart, as
she gives a home to two of her nephews,
George and Sterling, who are sturdy youths in
whom she takes great pride. They have one
daughter. Dorothy Elizabeth, aged five years,
who at the age of twenty-three months won
second prize, scoring ninety-seven and a half,
at Better Babies contest at the State Fair in
Lincoln, in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Enlow are
splendid neighbors on whom no one calls in
vain at time of stress and trouble, and they
enjoy the love and confidence of a large cir-
cle of friends.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
205
WILLIAM T. EVANS. — Although vari-
ously identified with affairs in ScottsbluiT
county since his arrival here more than a de-
cade ago, it is probably as a county agricultural
agent, he will be longest and gratefully re-
membered. More and more is it demonstrated
that a cultivated mind and fine instincts reach
their highest development oftentimes amidst
agricultural surroundings, diffusing around
them that refinement and peace that are the
hallmarks of the born student. To such a class
belongs Mr. Evans, who is now one of the
land owners of Scottsbluff county, but who
for years has been one of the most prominent
men in civic affairs.
He was born in Adams county, Iowa, Feb-
ruary 4, 1883, the son of F. E. and Eva L.
(Roberts) Evans. The father was a native
of Wisconsin and the mother of Illinois ; both
came from a long line of sturdy eastern stock,
as the earlier members of the respective fam-
ilies were pioneers in the middle west. Both
the parents are still living on their fine Iowa
farm, the father being sixty-three years of
age and the mother sixty. All the family are
hale and hearty in old age, living out the full
Bibical span of "three score years and ten,"
for as a boy Mr. Evans had eight living grand
and great-grand parents while two of his chil-
dren had seven gradparents and the others
have five.
The countrj^ school of Iowa furnished Will-
iam Evans his early educational training, sup-
plemented with the practical work a boy
learns on the home farm. He spent his youth
and early manhood in Iowa, but soon after
attaining his majority he determined to es-
tablish himself independently in business.
Looking the country over Mr. Evans decided
that there was the greatest future in the irri-
gated lands of the middle west where crops
are ahvavs. assumed with the plentiful supply of
water and never failing sunshine of the roll-
ing prairie lands. With this in view he lo-
cated in section 30, township 23-55, not far
from Mitchell, in 1906, a young man of twen-
ty-three with all the future before him, filled
with optimism and confident that with hard
work, study of climatic and crop conditions
dame fortune would smile upon his efforts and
he was not mistaken, for in thirteen years he
has won a fine farm, good business and is con-
sidered one of the most representative and
progressive agriculturists of this up-to-date
fanning community. The improvements on
his land are of the latest ; he has a good home,
adequate farm buildings with modern equip-
ment, all of which are indications that he is
a capable farmer, good citizen and progressive
in business. Mr. Evans carries on general
farming and stockraising, specializing in Dur-
oc Jersey hogs. That he stands high in the
community is attested by the positions of hon-
or and trust that have been confided to him by
his friends and acquaintances, for he is di-
rector of the school board, secretary of the
District Farmers Union, secretary of the
Farmers' Union Local, and some three years
ago was commissioned county agent of Scotts-
bluff by Governor Neville. All the offices
which take so much of his time have been
filled to the great satisfaction of the commun-
ity which he serves.
Well educated, and a thinker who keeps
abreast of all present day movements whether
commercial or political, Mr. Evans is an in-
dependent voter on both local and national
questions, voting as his conscience dictates
and for the best man for office. He is a mem-
ber of the Methodist church, to which he is
a liberal donator.
In Furnas county, Nebraska, on the 2Sth
of December, 1910, Mr. Evans married Pearl
Converse, also a native of Iowa, and they have
four children: Ilda, Dale. Lura and Ronald,
all residing with their parents.
WILLIAM OTTE, whose well improved
farm is situated on section 22, township 22-54.
is one of the substantial men of Scottsbluff
county. He was born at New Bremen, Ohio,
November 27, 1868, a son of William and
Lizzie (Sollman) Otte. The father was born
in Ohio and spent his life there, dying at the
age of seventy years. The mother was born
in Indiana but moved to Ohio with her parents
when twelve years old.
William Otte grew up on his father's farm
in Ohio and attended the country schools. In
1888 he came to Nebraska, locating at first
near Talmadge and for some time worked for
farmers in Otoe county. He remembers an
early experience in freighting, when he hauled
posts to Alliance for ten cents each. In 1891
Mr. Otte came to Scottsbluff county and home-
steaded and this property he still owns and has
added to until now he has an entire section,
which, through hard work, has been well devel-
oped. His buildings are substantial, his fields
are cultivated with modern machinery, and his
stock is standard. He has been industrious and
saving and has something to show for his years
of labor.
Mr. Otte was married to Miss Mattie Schuy-
ler, whose parents came from Pennsylvania to
Nebraska and located at Burwell in Garfield
countv. Both are now deceased. Air. and
206
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
Mrs. Otte have three children: Belle. Clifton
and Wilma. Mr. Otte has never been very
active in politics and has never been a candi-
date for any office. He is a good citizen, how-
ever, takes interest in the public schools, good
roads and other general subjects, contributes
his share to public enterprises, and may well
be called a representative citizen of his county
where he stands well with his neighbors.
FRANK LINCOLN LOGAN. — Though
he is yet many years from the psalmist's
"three score years and ten," and still possess-
ed of his full amount of physical and mental
vigor, Mr. Logan has the enviable distinction
of being one of the first permanent residents
of ScottsbluiT county, arriving here in 1890,
and thus his memory compasses the entire
gamut that has been run in the development
of this section of Nebraska from a prairie
wilderness to a populous and opulent district
of this great commonwealth, and it is grati-
fying to him to have been able to play a part
in the civic and industrial progress and up-
building of the county.
Frank Logan is descended from staunch
•Pennsylvania stock, as his ancestors located
in the' Keystone state at an early day. He
was born in Lee county, Iowa, September 4,
1865, the son of H. R. and Catherine C.
(McFarlane) Logan, both of whom were na-
tives of Pennsylvania ; the mother lived to the
age of forty-five years, passing away in Iowa
in 1885, while the father survived to be sixty-
four years of age, passing away in 1906. He
was a farmer in Washington county, Penn-
sylvania who came to Iowa at an early day
to take advantage of the fine farming land in
that state, and there he passed the remainder
of his days. Both the parents were members
and supporters of the Presbyterian church
and the father was a stalwert member of the
Republican party.
The subject of this review spent his boy-
hood days on his fathers farm in Iowa, ac-
quiring his early education in the public
schools of his district and at the same time
learning the practical business of farming
from experience on the land in Iowa, where
he remained some years after attaining his ma-
jority, but the country was getting well set-
tled up around the home farm and he de-
cided to establish himself farther west where
land could be obtained by homesteading. Ac-
cordingly he came to Nebraska in 1887. locat-
ing at York. Then in 1890 locating in Scotts-
blufif county, in section 22, township 23-56,
where he took a homestead and timber claim
which has never passed out of his ownership.
i\Ir. Logan had a little capital, composed of
$1,000 earned and saved in three years while
at York, when he came to this section, combin-
ed with a sturdy determination to succeed, a
healthy body and mental ability of a high
order and these have prove enough for him to
make a fortune, for from time to time he
has purchased more land until today he is one
of the largest holders of real estate in Scotts-
bluft' county, as he now owns 2,850 acres,
four hundred and seventy of which are under
irrigation. He has been a resident since the
time when the only houses in this section were
sod, half dug outs, and has watched with the
eye of a proprietor the various changes that
have been wrought by the passage of years
and the sturdy and progressive work of the
settlers, and has himself borne a full share
in the labor and development, for all the im-
provements on his large holdings are the re-
sult of his own brain and muscle ; all the
trees on his property he set himself and he
has literally made the "desert bloom like a
rose." So tliat the virgin earth has become
a fruitful mother to him and his. Mr. Logan 1
was a man of foresight, thrift and diligence |
and with such qualifications it is but natural
that his accomplishments have been of an un-
usual order. They have won for him for-
tune, and the esteem and respect which are
accorded him by his friends and associates.
In addition to his own property Mr. Logan
leases three quarter sections of school land :
he lias fine buildings on his property, a beau-
tiful home, the latest farm equipment and uses
modern methods, having long been established
as a progressive and skilled farmer who
thoroughly knows his business. He carries on
general farming and stock-raising and his suc-
cess attests to the soundness of his manage-
ment and methods.
Mr. Logan was first married to Miss Bertha
Akers, a native of Colorado, in 1895 ; she
was the daughter of William Akers of Alli- 
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